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Fire Danger
Each day during fire season, 3 weather stations are used to determine fire danger ratings for national parks in the S.F. Bay Area Network Fire Program. These weather stations transmit data to computers which is then available to fire managers through the internet. Wind, temperature, relative humidity, slope and fuel moisture are used to predict the probability of ignition and potential energy that would be released by a fire on the following day. These factors are combined into a single measure which provides a fire danger rating of Low, Moderate, High, Very High or Extreme. The fire danger rating is used to adjust fire staffing levels and determine whether there will be any fire restrictions on park activities.
The Remote Automated Weather Stations -- RAWS -- used to determine fire danger at Point Reyes National Seashore, Golden Gate National Recreation Area, and Pinnacles National Park are far enough apart, that on some days the fire danger rating will be different for all 3 locations:
- Mount Barnabe RAWS - located in Samuel P. Taylor State Park in Marin County at 810 feet elevation -- (** fire danger rating for all national park sites in Marin County)
- Pulgas RAWS - located in the San Francisco Penninsula Watershed in San Mateo County at 644 feet elevation -- (** fire danger rating for all national park sites in San Francisco and San Mateo Counties)
- Pinnacles RAWS located on the east side of Pinnacles National Park at 1300 feet elevation -- (** fire danger rating for Pinnacles National Park)
TOP BANNER PHOTO: Fire crew performing annual maintenance on the remote automated weather station (RAWS) at Pinnacles National Park (NPS Photo) |
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What kind of fires are allowed?
Fire ring at Kirby Cove Campground. (NPS Photo / J.Chapman)
CAMPFIRE RINGS: Kirby Cove Campground in the Marin Headlands (GGNRA), Stewart's Horse Camp in the Olema Valley (Point Reyes National Seashore), and Pinnacles Campground at Pinnacles National Park have fire rings located within campsites where wood fires are allowed, but only when fire danger is low to moderate. Visitors must check the fire danger rating before making a campfire. All other NPS campgrounds in the S.F. Bay Area allow only portable cooking equipment with charcoal or gas.
Beach fire, fully extinguished after use. (NPS Photo / J. Chapman)
BEACH FIRES: Beach fires are allowed throughout Point Reyes National Seashore, but always require a permit and may be termporarily prohibited due to fire danger. Ocean Beach or Muir Beach in Golden Gate NRA have a limited number of fire rings that are available on a first come, first served basis, but require a permit for groups of 25 or more. Beach fires are only allowed when fire danger is low to moderate. Muir Beach will be temporarily closed for restoration from July 8 through mid-November 2013.
Grill provided at Battery Wallace picnic area in GGNRA. (NPS Photo / J. Chapman)
CHARCOAL GRILLS & BBQs: Charcoal fires are allowed in park grills or self contained portable barbeques at designated picnic areas, even on high fire danger days, but are prohibited when fire danger is very high or extreme.
Modified from original photo posted to Flickr by uosɐɾ McArthur.
GAS STOVES: Gas stoves are low risk because they do not produce ash, embers or hot coals. They are allowed at designated picnic areas and campsites during all levels of fire danger. However, extra caution is always advised whenever it is hot and windy. |
