Forest Service Launches One Less Spark, One Less Wildfire Campaign
The One Less Spark, One Less Wildfire campaign is designed to provide constant reminders during fire season to reduce the numbers of human-caused vehicle and equipment wildfires throughout the state.
“All the stories we hear about sparks starting wildland fires are true, especially during this hot, dry summer,” said Los Padres National Forest Fire Management Officer Carrie Landon. “With the low precipitation over the winter, conditions are ideal for fire starts. We’re coordinating with communities, agencies, organizations and schools to heighten awareness and reduce the number of accidental fires.”
The campaign features posters, bumper stickers, informational cards and public service announcements which give safety messages about equipment such as lawn mowers igniting fires, tow chains sparking fires along roadways, and safe handling of campfires.
Partner agencies include: The National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Caltrans, California Department of Fish and Game, Cal Fire, Bureau of Reclamation and many others.
Fire season in California is well underway, and already campfires have been blamed for 45 fires on national forest land. Thirteen fires have been sparked by equipment such as string trimmers, chain saws and mowers. An abandoned campfire started the 1,708 acre Carstens Fire on the Sierra National Forest near Yosemite, and a cooking fire started the White Fire on Los Padres’ Santa Barbara Ranger District on Memorial Day.
For more information about fire prevention and the One Less Spark, One Less Wildfire campaign, visit www.preventwildfireca.org.
For further information regarding current conditions and safety tips, contact your nearest Forest Service office or visit the Los Padres National Forest website at http://www.fs.usda.gov/lpnf.
