May 24, 2024 3:05 a.m.

As Oregonians gear up for the holiday weekend, a coalition of agencies are reminding residents that campfires are a major source of wildfires.

A release from the Oregon Department of Forestry said May is Wildfire Awareness Month, and the Pacific Northwest Coordination Group is urging campers to follow these basic outdoor safety tips:

*Know before you go.  Before going camping, always contact the forest district, agency or landowner first to learn if there are any current fire restrictions where recreation is planned.

*Have water and fire tools on site. Keep a shovel and bucket of water nearby to extinguish any escaped embers. When ready to leave, drown all embers with water, stir the coals and drown again. Repeat until the fire is dead out. If it is too hot to touch, it is too hot to leave.

*Select the right spot. When campfires are allowed, choose a site with an existing ring. Fire pits in established campgrounds are the best spots.

*Keep the campfire small. A campfire is less likely to escape control if it’s kept small. A large fire may cast hot embers long distances. Add firewood in small amounts as existing material is consumed.

*Attend campfires at all times. A campfire left unattended for even a few minutes can grow into a costly, damaging wildfire. Stay with the campfire from start to finish until it is dead out, as required by law. That ensures any escaped sparks or embers can be extinguished quickly.

Other tips include:

*Consider alternatives to a campfire this summer

*Never use gasoline or other accelerants

*Burn only local wood

*Protect coastal communities and beach walkers by having beach campfires on open sand away from driftwood or vegetation.

Other wildfire prevention tips are at: www.keeporegongreen.org

Local fire information is available at the Douglas Forest Protective Association website: www.dfpa.net