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CNN Saturday Morning News

Tahoe National Forest Bans Campfires

Aired September 01, 2001 - 09:05   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN ANCHOR: Over the Labor Day weekend, lots of people are heading to campgrounds and campsites in the state of California and other places in national forests. But those on their way to Tahoe National Forest will find posted signs that ban campfires.

Bianca Solorzano of our affiliate KCRA has more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BIANCA SOLORZANO, KCRA REPORTER (voice-over): This holiday weekend, you'll find a lot of people camping and relaxing in the Tahoe National Forest. But what you won't find are campfires.

National forest officials started posting signs of a full fire ban, and drivers heading up I-80 also saw warning signs. Claris Goulart just found out when she pulled into her campsite.

CLARIS GOULART, CAMPER: In fact, I wasn't surprised when I saw him put the sign up. I'm really not surprised, not with all the fires that we've had.

SOLORZANO: The ban is also effective in developed campgrounds, picnic areas, and other developed recreation sites.

PHIL SEXTON, TAHOE NATIONAL FOREST: Basically, wood and charcoal fires are not permitted on any national forest lands on the Tahoe right now. Gas stoves are still OK on any lands and in campgrounds with a California campfire permit.

SOLORZANO: The decision to ban campfires is a rare one, and it comes because of continued dry conditions.

(on camera): National Forest Service officials say the conditions are so dangerous right now that if you were to start a campfire and any of the embers hit nearby dry fuel, there is a 90 percent chance that you would start a fire.

BYRON PIPKIN, DISAPPOINTED CAMPER: And every weekend we have a ban on campfires, and every weekend we have small fires that start from that.

SOLORZANO (voice-over): While the decision is based on stopping the spread of fires, it still disappoints many campers. This San Jose couple was looking forward to a weekend of hot s'mores and romantic campfire.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I was disappointed. Campfires are one of the big aspects of camping, so I understand you don't want to have a forest fire. But hopefully if people can control them in their little firepits, it'd be nice to have.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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