June 8 is National Get Outdoors Day, and millions of Americans are expected to head to public lands to hike, camp, and explore. But with much of the nation — and especially the Pacific Northwest — experiencing seriously dry conditions heading into the peak of wildfire season, the National Interagency Fire Center is urging outdoor recreationists to take fire safety seriously this year.

Human-Caused Fires: A Preventable Threat

Each year, thousands of wildfires in the United States are caused by people. With fuel moisture at critically low levels across much of the West and a heavy fine-fuel load from this spring's wet conditions now thoroughly cured, the potential for any ignition to escape and grow into a large fire is elevated. The leading human causes of wildland fires include:

  • Unattended or improperly extinguished campfires — The most common cause. Campfire coals can retain enough heat to ignite surrounding vegetation hours after a fire appears to be out.
  • Debris and agricultural burning that escapes control — Gusty conditions can transform a controlled burn into a wildfire in minutes.
  • Vehicle and equipment sparks — Catalytic converters on vehicles can reach temperatures of 1,200°F and ignite dry grass on contact. Trailer chains dragging on pavement, chainsaw exhaust, and ATV use in dry grass are all ignition sources.
  • Target shooting — Steel-core and tracer ammunition can generate sparks or burning material upon impact with rocky terrain.

Campfire Safety: Do It Right

Before lighting a campfire, always check with the local land management agency — fire restrictions can be enacted quickly when conditions deteriorate, and violations can result in significant fines. When campfires are permitted:

  • Use an existing fire ring where available
  • Keep fires small and manageable; never leave a fire unattended
  • Drown the fire completely with water, stir the coals, and drown again — repeat until every coal is cold to the touch
  • Never bury hot coals; buried fire can smolder underground and reignite days later
  • In particularly dry and windy conditions, consider a camp stove instead of an open fire

Vehicle and Equipment Safety on Public Lands

Vehicle-ignited fires are a growing concern, particularly along dry roadsides and in off-road areas where vehicles travel through cured grass. Key precautions:

  • Never park or idle a vehicle in tall, dry grass — the exhaust system can ignite vegetation beneath and around the vehicle
  • Check that trailer safety chains are properly secured and not dragging on pavement
  • Carry a shovel and a 2.5-gallon pressurized water container or fire extinguisher in your vehicle when traveling in fire country
  • When operating chainsaws or other power equipment, have water or a fire extinguisher immediately on hand

Know Before You Go

Planning ahead makes a big difference in fire-safe recreation. Before heading out:

  • InciWeb.nwcg.gov — Check for active fires and area closures near your destination
  • Recreation.gov — View current fire restrictions and alerts by location
  • Your local Forest Service or BLM district website — District-specific restrictions and advisories
  • AirNow.gov — Check air quality forecasts to plan around smoke events and protect your lungs

If you see a wildfire starting, report it immediately by calling 911 or the appropriate local emergency dispatch number. Early reporting gives firefighters the best chance of containing a new ignition before it grows. Taking these extra steps on public lands this season means protecting not just the landscape, but the communities, watersheds, and wildlife habitat that depend on them.