LOCALadk Magazine

Spring 2017 LOCALadk Magazine 3 LOCALadk The traditional activity at the end of a day exploring the lands or waters of the Adirondacks is to relax around a campfire. The pri- mal energy of the fire provides warmth, and the flames are mes- merizing. Properly built, maintained, and extinguished campfires do little harm to the wilderness, but significant damage can be caused when any step of the process is omitted. Campfires are the number one cause of wildland fires. Campfires that are only partially extinguished easily ignite the duff, then spread. A duff fire is one of the hardest to contain and extinguish because it is not easy to determine its location, as it is beneath the surface. Each spring, before vegetation has greened, the abundance of dry, combustible vegetation sets a ready stage for wildland fires. A breezy day can fan the flames and cause the fire to spread rap- idly. Down and dead logs, branches, and twigs contribute to the nat- ural carbon cycle of the wilderness. They are vital to the ecosys- tem and provide habitat for fungi, plants, insects, mammals, am- phibians, and birds. When the supply of this valuable down and dead wood is exhausted near campsites that are heavily used, the area becomes degraded and contributes little to the ecosys- tem. This depleted soil also sets the stage for erosion. When uninformed or inexperienced hikers and campers can't find down and dead wood, they often cut off live branches or cut down live trees, causing significant degradation of the for- est. This is the main reason why campfires are prohibited in the eastern High Peaks Wilderness. Keep campfires small to minimize use of firewood and to better control and prevent the fire from escaping and starting a wild- land fire. Better yet, use portable stoves for cooking. Tips for Ensuring a Safe, Low Impact Campfire Location Always use an existing fireplace or fire ring when available. Preparing the site: Locate the site away from trees, steep slopes, rotten stumps, logs, or other possible fuel sources. Clear an area three feet in diameter of all twigs, leaves, duff and other burnable materials, and scrape down to the mineral soil. Collect stones, build a fire ring two feet in diameter in the cen- ter of the scraped area. Firewood fuel: • Collect only down and dead firewood. • Use twigs and branches as firewood: abide by the "if you can't snap it, scrap it rule." • Small fuel is more plentiful and is easy to snap into small pieces. • For the control of invasive species, firewood that is trans- ported within New York must have a receipt or label that lists the firewood's source, and the wood must remain within 50 miles of that source. Campfire Maintenance: Keep campfires small – just enough to provide atmosphere. Do not throw trash into the campfire – Pack it Out! NEVER leave a fire unattended. Extinguish campfires – be sure the campfire is out and cold to the touch. • Drown the fire with water. • Stir the remaining coals. • Drown it again, saturating all embers, coals, and sticks. • Move rocks, as embers may be burning underneath. • Drown it and stir it again. Buried coals can smolder and ignite; leave them in the cold, wet fire ring. Keeping The Flame Alive (Responsibly) A message from the Department of Environmental Conservation Spencer Morrissey

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