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UPDATED: Dry Conditions Lead To Campfire Ban In Parts Of Obed Wild And Scenic River, Mammoth Cave National Park, Big South Fork National River And Recreation Area

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Unseasonably dry conditions have led to a ban on wood fires in the backcountry of Obed Wild and Scenic River/NPS

Editor's note: This updates with similar bans at Mammoth Cave National Park and Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area.

Bans on backcountry campfires are being instituted at more parks in the Southeast, with Obed Wild and Scenic River in Tennessee, Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area in Tennessee and Kentucky, and Mammoth Cave National Park all implementing fire bans.

Officials at the parks all point to unseasonably dry conditions for instituting the bans.

At Obed Wild and Scenic River, the bans include:

Backcountry: No building, maintaining, attending, or using a fire, campfire, or cooking fire within the backcountry. Portable stoves that use pressurized gas, liquid fuel, propane, or alcohol are permitted.

Designated Campgrounds: Campfires and cooking fires may still be used in the designated campground and picnic areas in developed portions of the park within established fire containers or rings and in accordance with park regulations.

Designated campgrounds and picnic areas include:

  • Rock Creek Campground
  • Nemo Day Use Area
  • Jett Bridge Day Use Area
  • Lilly Day Use Area

Within those exempted areas, fires will be permitted only within established and actively monitored fire rings and grills.

The ban would be lifted only after sufficient rainfall has been received and soil moisture increased significantly.

Tips for those attending a campfire in an established area include:

  • Stir the coals to wet all the embers.
  • Keep a shovel and water close at hand.
  • Feel to ensure that the coals are dead out.
  • To extinguish your fire, drown the fire with about 5 gallons of water.

At Mammoth Cave, Superintendent Sarah Craighead instituted a ban on all open-flame fires, effective immediately. 

“The lack of precipitation in September and October has caused drought conditions in our area,” said Superintendent Craighead. “The fire ban will protect park visitors and park resources. The ban will be in effect until conditions improve.”

Campfires and use of charcoal are banned in the park. Only camp stoves will be allowed in the campground.

At Big South Fork, Superintendent Niki Stephanie Nicholas said the backcountry ban on open fires is in an effort to lessen the dangers of wild fires in the park.

Backcountry: No building, maintaining, attending, or using a fire, campfire, or cooking fire within the backcountry. Within the backcountry, portable stoves that use pressurized gas, liquid fuel, propane, or alcohol are permitted.

Designated Campgrounds: Campfires and cooking fires may still be used in campgrounds and residential areas in developed portions of the park. Designated campgrounds include:

  • Bandy Creek Campground
  • Station Camp Horse Camp
  • Blue Heron Campground
  • Alum Ford Campground
  • Bear Creek Horse Campground
  • Charit Creek Lodge

Within those exempted areas, fires will be permitted only within established and actively monitored fire rings. Superintendent Nicholas further noted that the ban would be lifted only after sufficient rainfall has been received and soil moisture increased significantly.

Comments

Wow.  It rained every day that I was in Mammoth Cave in July.  A fire-banning drought is the last thing I would have expected there this year.


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