Signal Fire Controlled in GTNP
Colorado man charged with illegal fire and illegal camping
August 30, 2005
The Signal Fire, located south of Signal Mountain Lodge in Grand Teton National Park, was declared controlled at 7:30 on Sunday evening, August 28. Interagency fire personnel began suppressing this fire on Saturday afternoon, August 27, after receiving reports from park visitors hiking in the area. This fire was in close proximity to Signal Mountain Lodge and other human structures.
The Signal Fire was controlled at about one-half acre in size Fire crews will continue to do mop-up work and patrol for any remaining hot spots.
After conducting an investigation, park rangers determined that the Signal Fire was ignited by an out-of-bounds camper who started a fire to warm himself on Thursday night, August 25. Ryan Dobbs, age 20, from Steamboat Springs, Colorado, was charged with four misdemeanor offenses: illegal camping, an illegal fire, illegal possession of alcohol, and possession of illegal drugs. All four misdemeanor offenses are subject to heavy fines, and the drug possession and illegal fire charges require a mandatory court appearance. Dobbs will appear at a later date before the U.S. Magistrate’s Court in Jackson, Wyoming.
Park visitors are reminded that campfires are only allowed in fire grates within front-country park campgrounds and in established fire rings at some designated backcountry lakeshore campsites. A warm, dry summer and an extended drought have led to dry conditions in Grand Teton National Park, and unattended or abandoned campfires can quickly escalate into wildland fires. It is extremely important that all campfires are completely extinguished and cold to the touch before campers leave the site, and campfires should never be left unattended.
The fire danger rating for Grand Teton National Park and the Bridger-Teton National Forest is Moderate. For more about current fire conditions, go to www.tetonfires.com for the most up-to-date fire information for these areas.
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