Letter to the Editor: This Forest Supervisor gets it
The summer before the North Complex Fire I was critical of the former Plumas National Forest supervisor in my previous letter to the editor for refusing to ban open campfires fires. I reported my regular observations of unattended camp fires at the Red Bridge campsites. I cited the previous catastrophic fire in 1924 started by a campfire at the Nelson Creek Bridge that destroyed the Gold Rush landmark Pauly Hotel. I suggested that from July 1st until our first fall rains, that the campfire ban stay in effect and only propane stoves be used in our forests during that period. My warnings went unheeded.
Hats off to current Plumas National Forest Supervisor, Chris Carlton, who finally gets it. Our climate is rapidly changing, resulting in severely dry conditions in our forests. We must do everything possible to limit man-made wild fires. Banning campfires where a camp host is not present is an important first step towards that goal. The new National forest fire restrictions posted all over town demonstrate that the Plumas National Forest is committed to common sense precautions to keep us all safe. And it goes without saying that our hats are off to all of our firefighters that risk their lives to save ours.
David F. Matuszak, coordinator
Nelson Point Firewise Community