Spending Fourth of July in the forest? Leave fireworks at home

Idaho Panhandle National Forests is reminding visitors that fireworks are always prohibited on National Forest lands, regardless of weather conditions or holidays.

“For a fun and safe recreational experience this Fourth of July, let the stars bring the sparkle!” said a USFS news release.

Exploding targets and other pyrotechnic devices, such as Tannerite, are also prohibited on public lands administered by the USFS.

A few other tips from the USFS:

CAMPFIRES

Visitors are asked to be very careful with fire. Be sure to pack a shovel and a bucket for extinguishing your fire. Never leave a fire unattended and, before leaving a campsite, douse the fire with water, stir and check for heat with your bare hand. ALL fires must be DEAD OUT before leaving a site.

FOOD STORAGE

When visiting the Priest Lake, Bonners Ferry or Sandpoint ranger districts, remember to store food in hard-sided vehicles or bear-proof containers. The three northern ranger districts all have a food storage requirement in place. For information, read the Food Storage Order at https://www.fs.usda.gov/main/ipnf/home.

MOTOR VEHICLES

When driving, please remember to stay on designated motorized routes. Visitors should carry a Motor Vehicle Use Map, free at any USFS office or downloaded from Avenza Maps app to your smart device. Please observe off-highway motorized travel laws and regulations when exploring forests on motorized equipment.

LEAVE NO TRACE

Finally, remember to pack out your garbage and clean up before you leave. This allows other visitors to enjoy a clean, beautiful trash-free experience as well.