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California National Forest Campfire Permit online

PostPosted: Wed Mar 24, 2010 9:59 pm
by QITNL
The California Campfire Permit has been a piece of paperwork that somewhat mystified me. Free but you'd need to visit a ranger station or fax them to get one.

Now you can obtain one by taking the "test" here:
http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/sequoia/passesp ... index.html

At the bottom of the page is this link to the permit:
http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/sequoia/passesp ... it2010.pdf

As far as I can tell, print it out, sign it and you're good to go.

PostPosted: Wed Mar 24, 2010 11:39 pm
by Dave Dinnell
That is cool, thanks for posting. I've had a number of outings with my young sons that have been delayed due to needing to track down the ranger station and get a permit (and a few outings that I just didn't bother and kept everything below the radar.)

PostPosted: Thu Mar 25, 2010 6:46 am
by mrchad9
I've always had the same issue... discovered last year that Los Padres lets you get one by fax, but the Sequoia NF process QITNL links is even better. That's what I'm using this year- printed off a half dozen copies- one for each car, pack, etc...

PostPosted: Thu Mar 25, 2010 4:22 pm
by testid
This may seem to be a silly question, but is that permit valid in areas other than Sequoia NF? I'm thinking this because since the issuing agency is Sequoia it may only be good in Sequoia. Dunno.

PostPosted: Thu Mar 25, 2010 5:12 pm
by drpw
[quote="Dave Dinnell"and a few outings that I just didn't bother and kept everything below the radar.[/quote]

"WWJMD? What would John Muir do? It's the range of light man, I'm just letting these trees gloriously let out all the light they absorbed during their lifetime in one last grand conflagration. So shove it Mr. Ranger!"

PostPosted: Fri Mar 26, 2010 5:50 pm
by mrchad9
testid wrote:This may seem to be a silly question, but is that permit valid in areas other than Sequoia NF? I'm thinking this because since the issuing agency is Sequoia it may only be good in Sequoia. Dunno.


The permit is valid throughout California... all the national forests and BLM land... 100% sure

PostPosted: Tue Apr 06, 2010 5:23 pm
by m3talibkweli
mrchad9 wrote:
testid wrote:This may seem to be a silly question, but is that permit valid in areas other than Sequoia NF? I'm thinking this because since the issuing agency is Sequoia it may only be good in Sequoia. Dunno.


The permit is valid throughout California... all the national forests and BLM land... 100% sure


How are you 100% sure? i need to see some evidence. If this is true, southern california just got a little bit warmer at night.

PostPosted: Tue Apr 06, 2010 5:37 pm
by rhyang
m3talibkweli wrote:
mrchad9 wrote:
testid wrote:This may seem to be a silly question, but is that permit valid in areas other than Sequoia NF? I'm thinking this because since the issuing agency is Sequoia it may only be good in Sequoia. Dunno.


The permit is valid throughout California... all the national forests and BLM land... 100% sure


How are you 100% sure? i need to see some evidence.


Known fact -- it's been this way for years. Here's what the CDF says -

http://www.fire.ca.gov/communications/c ... ermits.php

Campfire Permits are designed for use on federally controlled lands including those falling under the US Forest Service, National Park Service, and Bureau of Land Management, and private lands that are the property of another person. On private lands you must also have written permission from the landowner for campfire use.

Permits are required for open fires, such as campfires, barbecues and portable stoves.

Permits are subject to restriction by local authorities. The need for restrictions is reviewed almost daily during the summer months and permits may even be suspended without advance notice. Permittees must check with local authorities each time they go out to an area.

Permits can be issued by the US Forest Service (USFS), Bureau of Land Management (BLM), National Park Service (NPS), and the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE).

Always:

1. Clear all flammable material away from the fire for 10 feet in all directions to prevent escape of the fire.
2. Have a shovel available at the campfire site for preparing and extinguishing campfires.
3. Have a responsible person in attendance at all times.
4. Extinguish campfires with water, using the drown, stir, and feel method.

You can contact the USFS at 707-562-8737, CAL FIRE at 916-653-5121, BLM at 916-978-4400, or refer to the individual National Park you are interested in at www.nps.gov , for more information.


Note that you can't just start a campfire simply because you have a permit. Call up your local land management agency (BLM, NF, NPS, whatever) and ask them about any applicable restrictions.

PostPosted: Tue Apr 06, 2010 6:27 pm
by mrchad9
Thank you rhyang.

Also- the form itself says "California Campfire Permit ... ... is authorized to build a campfire, subject to the terms listed on this permit on National Forest Land and Bureau of Land Management Land." And the form is identical throughout CA, regardless of the issuing agency.

PostPosted: Wed Apr 07, 2010 8:25 am
by mungeclimber
yay!

PostPosted: Wed Apr 07, 2010 6:26 pm
by asmrz
QITNL Thanks for posting this. I printed couple copies too and made a note of the link. Had problem with getting the permit at Holcomb Pinnacles at Big Bear last fall, the FS office there had extremely limited hours, a major inconvenience. Cheers, Alois.

Re: California National Forest Campfire Permit online

PostPosted: Fri May 13, 2011 9:24 pm
by QITNL
2011 Update:

The links at the top of the page are still valid. While the bottom of the first page reads 2010, the permit itself has been updated for this year:

http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/sequoia/passesp ... it2010.pdf

Re: California National Forest Campfire Permit online

PostPosted: Fri May 13, 2011 11:25 pm
by Denjem
Just took my test. Now I'm bonefide.

Re: California National Forest Campfire Permit online

PostPosted: Wed Oct 03, 2012 12:03 am
by cookingreno1
I'm getting ready to do the PCT next year and this website for a campfire permit will be a big time saver.

Re: California National Forest Campfire Permit online

PostPosted: Wed Oct 03, 2012 3:00 am
by lcarreau
Kind of makes you wonder if Page and Plant were able to start a fire with Four Sticks ..

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S9W8_PNCa6w[/youtube]