Baby it's dry outside

Fish and Wildlife restricted fires on Eastern Washington lands a month ago. They said, "The arrival of hot, dry summer weather has forced Fish and Wildlife to restrict fires and other activities on its eastern Washington lands to reduce the risk of a repeat of last year's costly fire season."

Fireworks are prohibited year-round on Fish and Wildlife lands and so is throwing a lit cigarette or any other burning material from a motor vehicle on a state highway. Sportswomen and men would think such a rule would not need to be stated, but, then again, it is best to make sure everyone understands the circumstances.

The additional restrictions in the July emergency order prohibits: Fires or campfires including those in fire rings, although personal camp stoves and lanterns fueled by propane, liquid petroleum or liquid petroleum gas are allowed.

Also, included in the restriction is smoking except in an enclosed vehicle, welding and the use of chainsaws, plus operating a motor vehicle away from developed roads.

However, parking is permitted at trailheads, within designated parking areas and in areas without vegetation that are within 10 feet of roadways.

The use of incendiary devices, such as tracer rounds or exploding targets, is also prohibited in all wildlife areas. Be smart and restrict these items on all lands, public and private, during this time of year.

Being smart or using common sense is the key to many outdoor activities. So be smart and use common sense during the fire season.

Campfires, even at established campsites, are prohibited on Fish and Wildlife land, but don't build a fire on private land either, even if allowed by the authorities. Why would anyone want to take such a risk?

Here is a report on a few of the local state parks as of Wednesday, Aug. 6:

Potholes State Park: Fire Ban, Level 4 (extreme), Fires restricted to gas and propane (self contained camping stoves allowed); No charcoal or wood fire allowed.

Bridgeport state park: Fire Ban, Level 2 (Medium), Wood fires restricted to select designated areas; gas, propane and charcoal allowed. Dennis note: Allowing a fire at this park surprises me as this park is relatively close to Pateros, where half the town burned. Keep your fires small.

Steamboat Rock State Park: Fire Ban, Level 4 (Extreme), Fires restricted to gas and propane (self contained camping stoves allowed); No charcoal or wood fire allowed.

Alta Lake State Park: Alta Lake State Park was evacuated July 17th when the Carlton Complex fires swept through the popular campground. Part of the lake, the side along the lake was unaffected. State Parks officials are working to reopen those parts of Alta Lake State Park in early to mid-August to campers and Day visitors.

Campers with summer reservations at the park also are invited to call the reservation system at 1-888-226-7688 to receive a full refund. If your camping reservation at Alta Lake is for later in the summer, you may choose to keep your reservation in place in case the park reopens

Alta Lake State Park is closed until further notice.

Dennis note: The possibility of reopening the campground is a good sign, but surprises me just the same. Apparently the state park system needs to make money, so they need to reopen as soon as possible.

Thank goodness for self-contained camp stoves. Even during fire restrictions, these cooking instruments are allowed, but what about cooking with a Dutch oven?

The folks at Camp Chef have developed a way to cook with a Dutch oven over a gas operated camp stove. One of the reasons some people haven't tried using a Dutch oven or have stopped using a Dutch oven is all of the mess involved when using charcoal.

The Dutch oven dome is made from heat resistant material with a heat reflective foil on the inside and has a hole in the top. It traps and circulated heat, thereby creating a convection-type oven.

The kit comes with a heat diffuser or flame tamer, a steel circle, which is placed over the gas stove burner. This prevents the flame of the burner from hitting the bottom of the oven directly.

The oven is placed on the flame tamer once it is in place. The dome is then placed over the oven. This is the only way I cook with a Dutch oven these days. When fire restrictions restrict the use of wood and charcoal, the dome is the only way to cook while using a Dutch oven.

Always be smart and use common sense when in the Great Outdoors, but especially during wildfire season.