We may be facing some pretty tough fire restrictions. According to the current info on the SBNF website, it looks like we might not even be allowed to operate gas fire pits or even cooking stoves right now. I've tried to contact every ranger station in the SBNF, as well as the Santa Rosa Wilderness office and the Palm Springs BLM office, but all offices are closed due to COVID-19. I might have to send an email and hope for a reply.
If anyone would like to read this info and see if I'm interpreting it incorrectly, please take a look: https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/sbnf/learning/safety-ethics/?cid=FSBDEV7_007776
Joe,
I think you are reading too far into it. I got there is so fires allowed outside of fire rings or approved BBQ sites. Right now they went further by stating those are temporarily halted due to fire restrictions and dangers. I think what you may have missed was "1.Building, maintaining, attending or using a fire, campfire, or stove fire except in a Forest Service provided campfire ring or BBQ within the areas listed Exhibit A. 36 C.F.R. 261.52(a)." which is established campsites. I got my campfire permit this year prior to going to the Rubicon. They are needed even for Coleman/Butane etc stoves. Simple to get and I think most of us get them each year anyway. We will be in an established campsite which has been cleared of combustibles and Smokey the Bear approved for people to safely use. We will be fine using the stoves and propane fire pit.
Further down what I got was:
Can I use gas, liquid or jelly petroleum-fueled stove in undeveloped (remote) camping areas? What about developed camping/picnic areas?
Yes. Gas, liquid or jelly petroleum-fueled stoves are allowed in undeveloped areas but require a California Campfire Permit (available on-line click here). There is a detailed set of rules and regulations in place for undeveloped camping because of fire danger and the impact of vehicles or horses in the Forest. Additional restrictions may be implemented as fire danger increases.
Gas, liquid and jelly petroleum-fueled camp stoves are also allowed in developed campgrounds and picnic areas; however do not require a California Campfire permit because of the location.
Why are jelly petroleum-fueled stoves okay and campfires aren’t?
Gas, liquid, and jelly petroleum-fueled stoves can be extinguished by turning off the fuel source to the stove. Jelly petroleum-fueled stoves can be extinguished by putting a metal lid over the container. This makes their use much safer than campfires.
Ashes or hot briquettes can blow outside of the fire pit; these embers can easily start a wildfire. Also, visitors might discard ashes or hot charcoal briquettes before they are completely cool, which could cause vegetation to ignite later after they are gone... even under the ground weeks later!
