Fire season brings camping restrictions

BOUNDARY COUNTY — According to state Fish and Game officials, fire season is in full swing.

This summer has had fewer wildfires than last year, but people going fishing and hunting need to stay abreast of conditions and active fires.

The Pioneer Fire between Idaho City and Lowman is currently the largest in the state, but it is not the only one. To see where fires are currently burning in Idaho, go to IDFG’s fire map page at fishandgame.idaho.gov/ifwis/maps/realtime/fire.

That page provides a quick overview of fires in Idaho and neighboring states. Even if no fires are burning in the vicinity, places where people recreate can be affected by smoke.

The Idaho Smoke Information page is available at idsmoke.blogspot.com, and it provides a map showing air quality throughout the region.

People should pay attention to fire restrictions if they are camping or recreating on public lands. This can be a little trickier, because they have to know who manages a particular parcel of public land. At any time of year, it is a good idea to always have a bucket of water and a shovel nearby a campfire.

Outdoor recreationists can help reduce the possibility of wildfire by camping in developed campgrounds with established firepits. These areas are typically cleared of nearby vegetation, reducing the risk of a spark catching fire.

When making camp in nondeveloped areas, people should take extra precautions and beware that campfires may be illegal on lands under fire restrictions.