Kaleidoscope: Parades, pyro and more: Your July 4th fun guide

For many, the Fourth of July means celebrating our country’s independence with barbecues, camping and, of course, fireworks. The Mt. Hood National Forest encourages the public to enjoy the holiday weekend, but to do so safely — and to be especially mindful of wildfire prevention on public lands.

 While there are no campfire restrictions at this time, campers are encouraged to think carefully before starting a campfire and to take measures to ensure that their fire burns safely and is thoroughly extinguished before leaving camp.

Visitors to national forests should always use caution to prevent human-caused wildfires. To reduce wildfire risk, please consider the following:

Fireworks are never allowed on federal public lands. This includes smaller consumer fireworks such as sparklers, firecrackers, bottle rockets and smoke balls.

 Before camping, learn of any fire restrictions in place and never leave a campfire unattended. Build campfires in open areas, preferably in existing fire rings. Make sure campfires are fully out and cool to the touch before leaving the area. (Please use the water and shovel technique.)

 When smoking, always dispose of cigarette debris in an ashtray.

 Avoid driving and parking in tall grasses. Exhaust particles and hot exhaust pipes can start grass fires. Even chains dragging along the ground, such as those on ATVs, can spark fires.

 Richard Periman, Mt. Hood National Forest supervisor, said, “Enjoy your national forest, but please, leave the fireworks at home!”