A high fire threat has ignited a stage one fire restriction for parts of Idaho.
Ed Waldapfel with the Sawtooth National Forest Service says, “We have a number of abandoned camp fires where people leave and don't put their fires out."
Most wildfires in the Sawtooth Forest are man made and now we face the consequences.
Waldapfel says, "The restrictions in stage one means that you can only have a fire in a facility in public land provided by the agency. You cannot use your briquette BBQ, you have to use one provided by the agency."
And think twice before you light up.
He adds, "It also means we're asking people to smoke only in their vehicles or if their hiking to stop and get into an area that has been cleared ten feet around."
A stage one is basically for public awareness to prevent fires.
Get to a stage three and portions of the forests could be shut down.
"People can still enjoy the public lands. Take a few minutes to look around. Make sure your camp fire is completely out drown it out with water stir it up with soil," says Waldapfel.
The restrictions apply to the northern portion of the sawtooths in the Fairfield and Ketchum area.
Waldapfel says your best plan is to call ahead to check if areas are still open and you may start it but don't be the one to leave it.