Open Campfires

1
Open Campfires

• By Paula Adia

2
Prospectus

• Camping its something many of us enjoy doing
  throughout the year. Spending time in the
  beautiful forest that surrounds Flagstaff.
  Although this is fun we need to take a look at
  the effects that campfires leave behind on the
  forest and the potential harm they can cause. The
  forest service is able to see what effects
  campfires have on the forest. Many campers are
  careless with fire and leave the fires burning or
  smoldering. Thus creating a problem because of
  the small amount of moisture received in
  Flagstaff, which has left the forest dry and at
  risk. Where should the line be drawn between the
  protection of the forest and our activities?
  Campers enjoy the outdoors and for those that are
  not careless this it is frustrating to have
  limits on activities.

3
Open Campfires (Forest Service)

• Argument
• The lack of precipitation that the forest has
  received has left the forest at risk.
• Support
• Precipitation Chart
• Map
• Large accumulation of dry ground fuels

4
Flagstaff Weather

• Jan Feb Mar Apr May
  Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
  Annual
• Average 42.6 45.1 49.9 58 67.7
  78 81.9 79 73.8 63.6 51 43.7
  61.2
• Temp Max
• Average 16 18.1 21.9 27.1 33.8
  41.1 50.3 49.1 41.3 31 22 16.4
  30.7
• Temp Min
• Average 2.05 2.10 2.22 1.30 .68
  .49 2.49 2.88 1.94 1.60 1.75 1.97
  21.48
• Precipitation
• Average 20.6 18 22.3 9.5 1.6
  0 0 0 .1 2.3 10.3
  15.5 100.1
• Snowfall
• Average 5 4 3 1
  0 0 0 0 0 0
  1 3 1
• Snow depth

5
(No Transcript)
6
Open Campfires (Forest Service)

• Argument
• People are careless with fire.
• Support
• Arizona Wild Fires 2005
• Human-caused fires 2,716
• Acres Burned 197,683
• Lightning-caused fires 1,196

7
Open Campfires (Forest Service)

• Argument
• Depending on how large and hot the campfire is,
  it can cause physical and chemical changes in the
  soil.
• Support
• Moisture holding capacity of soil is reduced.
• Changes the growth rate of plants effected by the
  fire.
• Effects not noticeable to most people many
  effects are not bad but some are fires still
  alter the environment.
• A single campfire can alter the soil at a depth
  of four inches depending on the temperature of
  the fire.
• Fires below 400 degrees do not really alter soil.

8
Open Campfires(Recreational Enthusiasts)

• Argument
• Campfires are a very important component of a
  camping experience.
• Support
• Its a way to cook.
• To enjoy great classics like a smoore or roasted
  marshmallow.
• You wont look as grubby when you come back if you
  dont have a fire. (How you look when you come
  back is a thing of pride)

9
Open Campfires (Recreational Enthusiasts)

• Argument
• When the correct safety precautions are used the
  chance of fire is greatly reduced.
• Support
• If a fire is fully put out it has no chance to
  start a fire.
• If a fully roaring fire is being watched it cant
  easily get out of control someone will catch it
  and put it out right away.
• Having a group of people patrolling would be a
  way to ensure that a fire would not get out of
  hand.

10
Safety Procedures

• Keep a shovel and a bucket of water handy.
• Start your fire downwind.
• Clear away brush.
• Build a fireplace of rocks all around it.

11
Open Campfires(Recreational Enthusiasts)

• Most forest fires are actually started from
  littered cigarette butts. While some fires do
  start from a campfire, lightning does start some
  too.
• Lightning and campfires start the same amount of
  forest fires a year.

12
Conclusion

• The safety of the forest and the activities of
  the public are both important. Ultimately fires
  will start but maybe there is a way that we can
  please both the forest service and campers.
• Proposal
• To help prevent a fire people within the forest
  service could walk around campsites, to oversee
  the fires in order to ensure the safety of the
  public, and the forest.

13
Bibliography

• Cole, N. D, Dalle-Molle, J. (1982). Effects of
  Campfires. Managing Campfire Impacts in the
  Backcountry (pp. 3-4).
• Enotes.com.(N.D.). What causes the most forest
  fires in the western United States?. Retrieved
  April 2, 2006, from http//science.enotes.com/scie
  nced-fact-finder/what-causes-most-forest-fires-wes
  tern-u
• Fire Prevention Tips. (N.D.). Wildfire Prevention
  Tips. Retrieved April 2, 2006, from
  http//www.dspud.com/fire/firePrevention.asp.
• Hensley, JJ. (2006). Arming Arizona For Wild Fire
  War. Retrieved March 30, 2006, from
  http//docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_verz39.88-20
  04rft_idinfosid/iw.new
• sbank.comAWNBARPBrft_val_formatinfoofi/fmtke
  vmtxctxrft_dat11021AA
• ADA9E54C0svc_datInfoWebaggregated3req_dat0D66
  F11AA88DE175
• Touchan. (1994). Flagstaff Area Wildfire Risk
  Assessment. Retrieved March 8, 2006, from
  www.gffp.org/about_gffp/firerisk.htm
• Litter.(N.D.).Fire Danger. Retrieved April 2,
  2006, from http//www.cigarettlitter.org/index.asp
  ?PageNameFires.