(SitNews) Ketchikan, Alaska - As the Fourth of July holiday approaches, residents, visitors, and campers are reminded that all fireworks, including sparklers, are prohibited on the Tongass National Forest.

“People assume the restrictions apply just to developed recreations areas managed by the Forest Service, including campgrounds, picnic areas, and day use areas,” said Forest Fire Management Officer Tristan Fluharty, “but no fireworks or pyrotechnic device of any kind may be discharged anywhere within the National Forests, regardless of weather conditions or holidays. We do not want to spoil anyone’s holiday, but we want the holiday to be enjoyable and safe for all forest visitors.”

One of five abandoned campfires found at Last Chance campground recently after the Forest Service had issued a high fire risk warning. Extinguish all campfires before leaving, even if gone for a short period of time
Photograph by WESTON DAVIS ©2015

The penalty for possessing fireworks can be as high as $5,000, imprisonment for up to six months, or both.

No other fire restrictions for the public are in place by the Forest Service, but visitors are asked to be mindful when visiting the Tongass National Forest as most fires are human-caused.

• Keep campfires small.
• Only burn materials that fit within the campfire ring.
• Watch out for overhanging vegetation or limbs.
• Extinguish all campfires before leaving, even if gone for a short period of time.

Additionally, fireworks are not allowed in the Ketchikan Gateway Borough. No person shall offer for sale, expose for sale, sell or possess any fireworks within any area of the Ketchikan Borough outside any city. The Ketchikan Borough also requires a permit for public fireworks displays. The permit for public fireworks displays must be obtained from the borough manager or his authorized representative after approval by local fire authorities. Any violation can be punishable by a maximum fine of $500.00. (Ketchikan Gateway Borough Fireworks Code)

Edited by Mary Kauffman, SitNews

Source of News:

U.S. Forest Service
www.fs.fed.gov

SitNews ©2015
Stories In The News
Ketchikan, Alaska

Articles & photographs that appear in SitNews may be protected by copyright and may not be reprinted without written permission from and payment of any required fees to the proper sources. E-mail your news & photos to editor@sitnews.us Photographers choosing to submit photographs for publication to SitNews are in doing so granting their permission for publication and for archiving. SitNews does not sell photographs. All requests for purchasing a photograph will be emailed to the photographer.