FIRE RING ETIQUETTE

Many areas in the Alabama Hills are being degraded by the overuse of fires. The best place to build a fire is within an existing fire ring in a well-placed campsite. Keep the fire small and burning only for the time you are using it. Allow wood to burn completely to ash. Put out fires with water, not dirt. Dirt may not completely extinguish the fire. Avoid building fires next to rock outcrops where the black scars will remain for many years. Carry your wood in and out. Do not use surrounding vegetation to fuel your fire. Desert plants keep the soil healthy and provide homes and food for wildlife. What may appear to be dead brush, is most often alive and part of a thriving eco-system. The BLM and local stewardship groups take the responsibility to break apart fire rings, and carryout the remains of wood and ash. If a fire is important to your camping experience, consider staying at Lone Pine or Tuttle Creek campground that support maintained fire rings. Please note that a California Campfire Permit is required for campfires, stoves, and lantern use in the Alabama Hills.