The Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest has banned open campfires and smoking. Forest officials made the decision late Tuesday.

According to fire officials, the long persistent dry summer has created dangerously high fire conditions and the National Weather Service predicts more dry conditions ahead.

Wood and charcoal fires are only allowed in developed campgrounds and group campgrounds that have established concrete or steel-grated fire pits or rings. Building and tending open campfires, including charcoal briquettes, cooking fires and warming fires are prohibited until further notice.

Allowable sources for cooking or heat include portable stoves or lanterns using gas, jellied petroleum …

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The U.S. Forest Service today announced eight dates when it will waive fees that are usually collected to support forest maintenance and amenities.

Visitors to national forests will not pay fees on the following dates in 2012:

• Saturday-Monday: Martin Luther King Jr. Day weekend
• June 9: Get Outdoors Day
• Sept. 29: National Public Lands Day
• Nov. 10-12: Veterans Day weekend

Despite the Forest Service’s fee waivers, the agency does not usually charge for visitors to national forests. In fact, the Forest Service does not charge for access on 98 percent of its land, said a news release. More …

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Volunteers are needed to help the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest staff with a clean-up day on July 16.

The effort will focus on Greenwater and Wilkeson areas, similar to last year.

Volunteers should meet at 8 a.m. that day in the south parking lot to the Enumclaw Fairgrounds. The parking lot is at the intersection of Southeast 456th Street and 284th Avenue Southeast.

Organizers asked that people bring supplies such as gloves, plastic bags and rakes. Volunteers also should bring water and food to last throughout the day.

If you are interested in helping or have …

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Almost 100 volunteers turned out Saturday to help pick up trash and remove debris on Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest lands along state Route 410.

Groups went to about a dozen locations on the state Route 410 corridor and in the Wilkeson-Carbonado area near state Route 165.

“We picked up approximately 62 yards of garbage, two 25 yard dumpsters and approximately another 10 pickup and trailer loads,” wrote Ian J. Canaan, a forest law enforcement officer in an e-mail.

“We removed a camper, engine block, household furniture, propane tanks, paint cans, car parts and almost anything you can think of,” he …

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Approximately 200 volunteers are expected to turn out Saturday to help clean up trash left by target shooters on Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest on the state Route 410 corridor and the Wilkeson-Carbonado area.

The volunteers are from environmental groups, National Rifle Association and Forest Service employees. The public is welcome to join the effort.

Volunteers should plan to meet at 8:30 a.m. Saturday at the south parking lot for Enumclaw Fairgrounds, 45600 284th Ave. S.E., Enumclaw. The work will run from 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

For more information, contact Snoqualmie District Ranger Jim Franzel at 425-922-1561.

The U.S. Forest Service has announced it will close Mountain Loop Highway 7 a.m. Monday through noon Friday beginning Monday. The closure will last until the end of April. The road will be open on weekends.

Workers will close various locations from mile post 42, south of White Chuck Bench Overlook, to mile post 35, south of Bedal Creek Bridgem, said a Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest news release.

Closures next week on the north side of Mountain Loop Highway will block access from Darrington to forest road 49 and Sloan Creek Trailhead, which leads to

…

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Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest officials will close Mason Lake Road (Forest Service Road 9031) at 8 a.m. Monday.

The closure, starting at milepost 2.5, is needed for commercial timber thinning. The road will be closed 8 a.m. Mondays through noon Fridays through the end of April.

Mason Lake Road parallels the north side of Interstate 90 and is off Exit 45. The closure will block access to Ira Spring Trailhead during the week. Hikers can still reach the Talapus Trailhead.

Forest officials are thinning 350 acres of western hemlock, Douglas fir and western red cedar, cutting trees 60-75 years old …

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Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest just announced the Middle Fork Snoqualmie River Road, Road 56, has reopened to vehicular traffic.

Last winter’s floods closed the road, blocking access to the Middle Fork and Snoqualmie Lake trailheads.

The Upper Middle Fork Road remains closed until next summer for repairs just beyond the Middle Fork Campground and Taylor River Bridge, from mile post 12.5 to its end at Dingford Creek Trailhead.