Elevated fire risk on the Kenai Peninsula has division of forestry officials concerned about warming or campfires this weekend.
As Alaskans and visitors make their way to the popular recreation area for a long weekend of camping, division of forestry fire prevention officer Paul Pellegrini says one of the things campers need to be mindful of is the wind.
There is a peninsula-wide ban on open burning right now because the risk of wild fire is so high.
Pellegrini says even though there is a ban on burning lawn debris or trash barrels, you can still have a warming or cooking fire.
Pellegrini says having a rock border around your campfire can help keep it contained as wood gets piled on later in the evening.
He says a shovel and pail of water are also important to have at the ready.
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Lori Townsend is the chief editor, senior vice president of journalism and senior host for Alaska Public Media. You can send her news tips and program ideas for Talk of Alaska and Alaska Insight at ltownsend@alaskapublic.org or call 907-550-8452. Read more about Lori here.
