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Fire restrictions not stopping campers

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Posted 10:40 PM 5/19/2012 : Fire restrictions not stopping campers

TUCSON - Campers are still filling sites on Mount Lemmon in spite of fire restrictions.

In the Coronado National Forest, campfires are only allowed in developed areas with permanent fire pits.

Thomas Creel was planning to camp in an undeveloped area. When he heard about the restrictions, he chose to take his family to a site where fires are allowed.

"It's pretty dry up here," Creel said. "We need to make sure we're not lighting the forest on fire."

Smoking is not allowed in areas where the ground could catch fire.

Fireworks are also banned.

"If you look up to the north of us, I think you'll see several examples," Coronado National Forest spokesperson Heidi Schewel said, "of what can happen if a fire gets started under these conditions."

The maximum penalty could be a $5,000 fine and 6 months in prison.

Austen Bramhall camped in an area where fires are not allowed.

"If you know how to make a safe fire," Bramhall said, "you're not going to have a problem, but there are stupid people out here. And that sucks for everyone else."

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