Heading To Mt. Charleston To Escape The Heat? Make Your Visit Fire Free
The U.S. Forest Service will be imposing fire restrictions around Mt. Charleston beginning Friday, July 14, 2023. The first thing to remember is that the vegetation in that area has dried up considerably. Our wet winter helped push “fire season” to July. That is rare here in the desert.
Fire Restrictions Go Into Effect This Weekend
If you visit the Mt. Charleston Recreation Area frequently during the summer months, you’re used to these fire restrictions. Basically, you should not start or maintain any wood campfires or charcoal barbecue fires. However, you can use a portable gas or propane stove as long as it has an on/off switch or knob. Visit GoMtCharleston.com to get more specific information.
Of course, there are never any fireworks or explosive devices allowed in the Mt. Charleston area. So, if you have leftover fireworks from the 4th of July, leave them at home. In fact, save them for next year. Why? Because safe-n-sane fireworks are only allowed in Clark County from June 28th through July 4th.
Did you realize that pulling your car over to the side of the road around Mt. Charleston can be a fire hazard? Forest Service officials say hot brakes and hot catalytic converters can ignite fires on dry grass. That’s according to an article by Steve Wolford on News3LV.com. So, please be very careful this weekend.
It’s Been Ten Years Since The Destructive Carpenter-1 Fire
If you’ve lived in Southern Nevada for ten years or more, you’ll remember the Carpenter-1 fire. Per Wikipedia.org, it began on July 1st, 2013 near Pahrump. Consequently, strong winds blew it eastward. That fire destroyed almost 28,000 thousand acres. It could be seen for miles across our city.
It must be remembered that it took firefighters eight weeks to control that blaze. On the whole, there were hundreds of firefighters and eight “hotshot” crews involved. In addition, helicopters, fire engines, water tenders, and a DC-10 tanker plane were utilized. To be sure, it remains one of the largest fires to occur on Mt. Charleston.
Let’s do our best to make to remain fire free this summer.