Firefighters safely extinguished a large unattended campfire found burning near a popular trailhead in eastern Marion County on Sunday morning, prompting safety reminders from forest officials.
Crew members from NM Engine 641 were patrolling the Ocala National Forest when they located the active, abandoned fire at approximately 11:00 a.m.
According to a weekend wildfire update from the U.S. Forest Service, the campfire was burning near the edge of the day-use area and the Florida Trail trailhead portion of the Farles Prairie Recreation Area in eastern Marion County.
Using hand tools and water from their Type-6 wildland fire engine, the patrolling crew members quickly and thoroughly extinguished the flames.
Forest officials emphasized that although national forest fire restrictions and local county burn bans have been officially lifted, leaving a campfire burning unattended is never acceptable.
The incident follows a period of extreme drought conditions in late May that fueled multiple large blazes in the region, including the 953-acre Shell Fire in the Alexander Springs Wilderness and the 27-acre Lake Dorr 2 Fire. While conditions have shifted enough to allow officials to rescind mandatory local burn bans and forest restrictions, the potential for wildfire remains a critical safety focus.
The Forest Service urges all visitors to practice proper fire safety by remembering to drown, stir, and feel before leaving any campfire site.
To properly extinguish a fire, campers should first drown the area with water and stir all remaining embers, coals, and sticks together. After adding more water and stirring a second time, visitors should use the back of their hand slightly above the coals to feel the materials.
Officials state that campers should never leave their site until they know the fire is completely cold and fully out.
What are your thoughts on visitors leaving unattended campfires in the national forest? Share your perspective in a comment below or write a letter to the editor.