Yuba Fire Reveals Systemic Problem: Campfires
UPDATE: Townhall Meeting
WHAT: State of Emergency in the Yuba Canyon
WHEN: Monday, August 8 from 6-8:00 pm
WHERE: Nevada Theatre, 401 Broad St, Nevada City, CA 95959
Details: Join KVMR and YubaNet, along with Tahoe National Forest Fire Chief Shelly Allen, CAL FIRE NEU Battalion Chief Matt Wallen, Captain Jeffrey Pettitt Nevada County Sheriff’s Office, Captain Boyd Johnson North San Juan Fire Department and Nevada County Consolidated Fire Department, for this community conversation. This event will be broadcasted live on KVMR FM 89.5. Questions will be taken from the theater audience as well as online. The event is free and open to everyone. Read more…
This article was originally published by YubaNet on August 2, 2016, 11:39:29 AM
NEVADA CITY, Calif. August 2, 2016 – The Yuba Fire, currently held in check by firefighters, has revealed a worrisome problem in the Yuba river canyon. Numerous extinguished campfires and fire rings were found by crews hiking in to the fire.
The checkerboard ownership in the canyon has long been used by irresponsible campers as an excuse to have their campfires in the canyon. State Parks and BLM own the majority of the land between Purdon and Edwards Crossing on the South Yuba Trail. On BLM land, you may camp, with a valid camp permit, for up to fourteen days. No camping is allowed on State Parks land, it is day use only.
No camp fires allowed anywhere
Now in the fifth year of a drought, fire danger is extremely high. Therefore, even BLM has issued fire restrictions: Open fires are not allowed outside of posted, developed campgrounds and recreation sites, even with a campfire permit. Portable stoves and lanterns using gas, pressurized liquid fuel or jellied petroleum may be used outside of developed campgrounds and recreation areas. Campfire permits are required. Permits are available at BLM, Forest Service and Cal Fire offices.
A CAL FIRE prevention officer accessing the fire educated some campers that had a fire roaring around 11 am, clearly oblivious to the posted signs.
Daily foot patrols are urgently needed
The absence of regular patrols in the canyon has led to several fires over the years. While all agencies are short-staffed, a rotation of law enforcement officers could be set up and jointly patrol public lands.
With the bulk of the fire season still ahead of us, the risk a fire in the canyon poses is too great to be left unaddressed. The mutual aid system has proven its efficiency when it comes to fighting fires, could a similar system prevent a catastrophic fire?
Cell phone use
Locals regularly report getting into arguments with campers. Do not confront campers, report them and the exact location of their fire. While cell phones rarely work in river canyons, you can still use the GPS function to get a precise location. Open the map app of your choice and drop a pin at the location. An exact location, be that for a fire or a medical emergency, will shorten response time for firefighters and medics. So will parking in permissible spots, instead of blocking the roadway.
Camping rules
Edwards Crossing – NO overnight camping. Overnight parking OK. The area between a ¼ mile downstream and a ½ mile upstream from Edwards Crossing is a high-density recreation area – DAY USE ONLY.
Purdon Crossing – NO overnight camping. Overnight parking OK in two designated parking spaces for no more than 7 days. Approximately 1 mile from Purdon Crossing to China Dam is a high-density recreation area – DAY USE ONLY.
Did you enjoy this post?
Get new SYRCL articles delivered to your inbox by subscribing to our ENews.
So what number do we call if, for instance, people are camping overnight at Oak Tree at Purdon ?
What about Jones Bar, which is part of the State Park?
Jones Bar, part of the State Park, is day use only, in addition to Oak Tree at Purdon. It would be best to give State Parks a call at (530) 432-2546. Also, KVMR & Yubanet will be hosting a townhall meeting on Monday at Nevada Theatre. Tahoe National Forest Fire Chief Shelly Allen, CAL FIRE NEU Battalion Chief Matt Wallen, Captain Jeffrey Pettitt Nevada County Sheriff’s Office, Battalion Chief Boyd Johnson North San Juan Fire Department, our own Caleb Dardick South Yuba River Citizens League and Nevada County Consolidated Fire Department will be in attendance. The event is free and all are welcome. More info here: https://yubanet.com/regional/state-of-emergency-yuba/
Thanks for doing this – if I'm not able to attend, I would like to suggest that overnight parking not be allowed at either Purdon or Edwards. If overnight camping is not allowed, I don't understand the rational for allowing overnight parking.