Wildfire Prevention Tips
Educate yourself - Wildfire Tips
There’s nothing better than getting out on the trail and enjoying all the great outdoor recreation activities Utah has to offer. But there’s nothing worse than the danger and destruction that wildfires can cause to our public lands. So we’ve teamed up with Firesense to bring you some tips on how we can all Do Our Part to prevent wildfires when offroading.
Following the T.R.E.A.D. Principles can help protect public lands from wildfires.
Know Before You Go
Check Your Vehicle
Check Your Parking
Be Campfire Careful
Target Shooting
Using Fireworks
Flying Drones
Prevent roughly 70% of wildfires.
Fire Sense Is Common SenseThe trick is just using it, so the next time you’re off-roading, camping or shooting, keep enjoying the great outdoors by following these tips and rules.
We can help prevent roughly 70% of wildfires. Visit Utahfiresense.org or your State’s wildfire site for more info and let’s all Do Our Part to Protect the Fun and Adventure.
Know Before You GO
How to check conditions and restrictions for your destination
- Check Official Agency Sites
- Review Fire Bans & Ratings
- Track Active Fires via InciWeb
- Monitor Road Closures
Before hitting the trail, check the official forestry or land management websites (like the U.S. Forest Service or BLM) for the specific regions you’ll be visiting to find current fire danger ratings and active campfire bans. For real-time updates on active wildfires, smoke, and sudden road closures while traveling, use live tracking tools like InciWeb or state Department of Transportation maps.
Check Your Vehicle
To ensure your OHV trip doesn’t accidentally spark a wildfire, essential vehicle maintenance and secure trailering are key. Before heading out, inspect your brakes and tires to prevent metal-on-metal sparks, top off coolant levels to avoid engine overheating, and ensure a qualified spark arrester is installed to trap hot embers. If trailering, completely secure all chains and tie-downs so they don’t drag on the asphalt and ignite dry roadside grass. Finally, always carry a charged fire extinguisher on your machine or trailer to quickly handle any accidental ignitions.
How and why to check your vehicle and support equipment
- Inspect Brakes and Tires
- Check Coolant Levels
- Install and maintain the Spark Arrester
- Secure Chains and Tie-Downs
- Carry a Charged Fire Extinguisher
Check Your Parking
Where to park your OHV
- Park on Cleared Ground
- Avoid Tall Dry Grass
- Check the Underbody
- Stick to Designated Staging Areas
When parking your OHV, choosing the right spot is crucial to preventing wildfires, as vehicle undercarriages can easily exceed 500°C. Always park on cleared ground like bare dirt, gravel, or paved surfaces, and completely avoid tall grass or dry weeds that can ignite instantly upon contact with a hot exhaust system. Stick to designated staging areas or established trailheads rather than pulling off into undisturbed, flammable brush. Finally, before walking away, take a moment to check the underbody and clear out any dry grass, twigs, or debris that may have wedged themselves against hot engine components while you were riding.
Be Campfire Careful
How to enjoy a campfire safely
- Check Local Fire Restrictions
- Use an Established Fire Ring
- Keep It Small and Attended
- Have a Drown Bucket Ready
- Drown, Stir, and Repeat
Before lighting a campfire, always verify local fire restrictions with the managing agency to ensure burning is permitted. When you are clear to build one, use an established fire ring and clear a 10-foot perimeter down to bare dirt, keeping the flames small, manageable, and constantly attended. Before striking a match, have a drown bucket of water and a shovel standing by right next to the pit. When it is time to turn in for the night, use the drown, stir, and repeat method: completely douse the flames, stir the ashes and coals with your shovel, and add more water until everything is ice-cold to the touch.
Target Shooting
How To Target Shoot Responsibly
- Use Non-Explosive Targets
- Avoid Steel Components
- Shoot into Bare Ground
- Keep Extinguishing Tools Handy
When target shooting in dry regions, small sparks can easily ignite a wildfire, making smart equipment and location choices essential. Never use exploding targets or tracer ammunition, both of which are highly illegal in fire-prone seasons, and opt for copper-jacketed lead bullets instead of steel-core ammunition, which can throw sparks when striking rocks. Ensure your backstop is entirely bare dirt, sand, or gravel rather than dry brush or rotten logs. Finally, always keep a shovel and a fire extinguisher or plenty of water right at your shooting station so you can instantly put out a spark before it spreads.
Firework Safety
Check Fireworks Regulations
- Never on Public Lands
- Stick to Hard, Clear Surfaces
- Maintain Safe Buffers
- Skip Aerial Fireworks
- Soak All Debris
It is critical to remember that fireworks are strictly prohibited on all public lands, including National Forests and BLM areas. If you are lighting fireworks legally in hot or dry regions, always ignite them on cleared gravel or asphalt areas and stay far away from flammable vegetation and buildings. Avoid aerial fireworks entirely in these conditions, as they travel unpredictably and pose an exceptionally high wildfire risk. Finally, keep plenty of water nearby, and always soak all debris in a bucket of water for several hours before throwing it away to prevent smoldering garbage fires.
Flying Drones
Operating a drone anywhere near a wildfire is strictly illegal and highly dangerous, as it poses a severe collision risk to emergency response teams. Whenever an unauthorized drone is spotted over a wildfire, fire managers are forced to immediately ground all low-flying airtankers and helicopters, which delays suppression efforts and puts lives on the ground at risk. Treat all active fires as automatic no-fly zones, and always check emergency airspace apps before launching to ensure no Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFRs) are in place. Ultimately, if you fly your drone near a fire, emergency crews cannot fly theirs—and you could face severe civil penalties, massive fines, or criminal prosecution.
Fly your drone responsibly
- Keep Space Clear for Aircraft
- Respect Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFRs)
- Check Airspace Apps
- Know the Penalties
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