While Don write this with OHV enthusiasts in mind, many of us drive forest roads to get to our favorite spots (and park)..
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OHV wildfire prevention mascot encourages riders to do their part during National OHV Safety Week
As summer temperatures rise across the West and fire danger increases on public lands, Donsquatch is reminding riders that protecting forests, trails, and riding opportunities starts with individual responsibility.
Donsquatch, the official OHV wildfire prevention and post-fire recovery mascot for Quiet Warrior Racing LLC, is helping spread awareness as part of the 2026 National OHV Safety Week, which runs June 13-21.
Wildfires are no longer isolated seasonal events. Across California and the Pacific Northwest, repeated megafires have damaged trail systems, destroyed recreation infrastructure, impacted wildlife habitat, and stretched the capacity of firefighters and land managers to keep up with recovery efforts. The good news, according to the campaign, is that the OHV community can play an important role in preventing human-caused fires and helping keep public lands open for future generations.
One of the most important wildfire prevention tools for OHV users is ensuring motorcycles, ATVs, UTVs, Jeeps, and 4×4 vehicles are equipped with properly functioning spark arrestors. The USDA Forest Service requires spark arrestors that meet Forest Service standards for OHV operations in fire-prone environments because hot carbon particles expelled from exhaust systems can ignite dry vegetation under the right conditions.
The Forest Service Wildland Fire OHV Standard identifies spark arrestors as mandatory safety equipment for wildfire operations and public land vehicle use.
Donsquatch also encourages riders to inspect vehicles before every ride. Dry grass and pine needles can accumulate near exhaust systems, skid plates, brakes, and engine compartments where heat can create ignition risks. Carrying a small fire extinguisher, shovel, and basic emergency gear is becoming increasingly important during peak fire season.
Riders are also urged to avoid parking vehicles in tall dry grass and should never idle vehicles unnecessarily during extreme heat events.
Responsible riding behavior remains another important component of wildfire prevention. Riders are encouraged to stay on designated routes, obey seasonal closures, and respect emergency fire restrictions. Land managers often implement temporary closures not to punish recreation users, but to reduce ignition risks and allow firefighters safe access during critical fire conditions.
Ignoring closures or driving around barriers not only damages natural resources but can jeopardize future access for everyone.
Another growing concern involves overloaded or improperly modified OHVs operating in rugged terrain during extreme summer conditions. Forest Service OHV safety guidance emphasizes the importance of proper vehicle maintenance, safe modifications, adequate cooling systems, and compliance with manufacturer recommendations to reduce breakdowns and operational hazards in wildfire environments.
Many riders take pride in customizing their vehicles, but safety and reliability should always come first when operating on public lands during fire season.
Donsquatch also encourages the OHV community to support local volunteer trail crews, post-fire recovery projects, and stewardship partnerships with agencies and nonprofits. Across the West, volunteers and recreation groups are helping reopen trails, repair damaged infrastructure, remove hazard trees, restore watersheds, and educate the public about sustainable recreation.
Those partnerships are becoming increasingly important as agencies continue to face staffing shortages, deferred maintenance, and the growing pace and scale of wildfire impacts.
The message from Donsquatch is straightforward: every rider has a role to play in protecting the lands they enjoy. Responsible OHV use, proper equipment, wildfire awareness, and good stewardship are no longer optional—they are essential to keeping trails open and helping forests recover.
As Donsquatch likes to say, “We Ride. We Care. We Restore.”
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Don Amador is a longtime public lands advocate with over 30 years of experience in recreation policy, trail stewardship, and collaborative land management and former Chair of the CA State Parks OHMVR Commission.
And let’s not forget that over 80% of fires are human caused. My conclusion? When fire danger rises above Moderate, close all forest roads. Doing this has the potential to save hundreds of millions of dollars in firefighting costs. Simple, right? So why don’t we do it?
Well, I tell ya Glenn, sitting in the chair that makes those decisions is not for the faint of heart! It’s not that simple, and certainly not cut and dried. Those folks who are impacted by closures own that land, so a person had better be right!
I always used the advice of my staff, with a heavy reliance on the FMO’s and Fire staff – both Forest and Regionally. I saw a few who made the wrong decision impact their careers in a negative way. But that was back a few years ago, when responsibility still was an important trait! I was lucky I always made a good choice; I had great staff….
I did close a Forest one year and was inundated with folks violating the Order. Funny thing, we had a large fire going, and the main pushback was from the other side of the Forest, who had been evacuated a few years earlier due to a really devastating wildfire! You’d think some folks would learn……
Jim, I wondered about that also.. how could you actually “close” a forest.. can’t gate all the roads so perhaps it depends on people honoring the order.. which would work for some but not for all. If you try to enforce it, it would take up employee time, and if you didn’t enforce it, people might tend to blow it off.
Also (like evacuation) I think people would likely make up their own minds.. if there’s an ongoing fire, yes, honor the closure.. but pre-emptive not so much. How does the enforcement work in practice?
Sharon, it’s mainly an “all hands” effort. LE & I would send in additional, detailed officers and folks with Level II authority can write tickets – if need be. The Counties were always quick to lend a hand too, generally staffing highway closures at the Forest Boundary. It’s actually pretty effective, but we always used a “soft” approach whenever we could; no need to write a bunch of tickets unless the violations were repetitive or flagrant. The signing of the Order was delegated to the Forest Sup, if the proper training and certification was in place. It used to be by name, but now I think it is by position.
I have to compliment Don on his proactive nature of his attempt to ready OHV enthusiasts for fire season. I have never understood the lack of adapting the “rules of the forest” that the State of Oregon has, or at least had. I assume they are still in effect; shovel or Pulaski, and a bucket in each vehicle – no exception. I know FS vehicles at the time required both shovel and Pulaski on each vehicle, and a bucket!
Saws required the spark arresters and “can” fire extinguisher, and a shovel! Wood Permits, at the time, and “Green Sheet” sales also required the same equipment as saws. Also, part of the permit language, the holder was required to take action on a wildfire start! Required!
Before the fire organization “stove piped”, fed on their self-worth and became their own entity, the woods were full of people. Loggers had fire vehicles, complete with water storage, a pump and whatever number of fire equipment inventory, based on the number of employees on that logging side. I doubt anyone actually knows the number of fires extinguished by permit holders, loggers, or just forest users.
If the FS, and States were serous about fire suppression, they’d make sure like requirements were in place before entering a National Forest! No App required……🤠
Mr. Z, very good points you make. Just an observation of a different time when we grew up year after year under clear blue skies and had 4-Seasons; Winter, Spring, Summer and Fall.
02JUL2026
12:30 – 16:45
MED-BOW NF
East Fork Bow River – running about same as would in September during “average” water year.
Main stem Bow River – 9438’ elevation – running ~same as would mid to late August…
Forest soil condition: hair on neck standing straight up scary dry.
Above timeframe: 4-dirt bikes; assorted 4-wheelers, majority of side x sides numbering in total 71 — while I was near the road. This numbered 5 distinct caravans, no telling how many more earlier in the day or after I headed down. Fine dust obscuring the horizon.
One group of 17 side x sides, all makes and models, politely pulled over to allow me to pass. After arriving at our property I watched this group from a rock outcropping looking down on them. I can’t vouch for inside the cabs of these innocents but seen two short handled spade shovels, no buckets, doubt any would know what a Pulaski is, a couple camp axes, and one naked smaller chainsaw happily bouncing around in the bed of one. Fire extinguisher in case a vehicle has trouble??? Who knows?
Over the last several years this area has become an international off highway route where some people start in Mexico. Some that stopped by to visit were on their way up thru to Alaska on as few on-highway surfaces as possible. The road damage is becoming impressive in certain areas where back during logging my dad could drive his shiny new 1965 Chrysler New Yorker and later (1992) my wife could drive a low ride 1967 Buick LaSabre without dragging bottom (I won’t take my pickups over it today unless it is the only avenue of escape). In our case individuals or caravans start primarily in Colorado to Wyoming to Montana ending in different National Parks. We have even had visitors stop by (primarily dirt bikes…some bicycles) from England, France, Germany, Spain, and Italy. (Some are aghast at the forest condition).
Longer story short, Mr. Amador and Blue Ribbon have done an admirable service to their industry over the decades. Sadly, at least in our area of decaying beetle kill and roadless, the threat of fire seems farthest from the minds of these caravan passerby’s.
We are foregoing staying the summer in an 1896 land grant area where I grew up. After more than 67 years straight of celebrating the 4th of July, that I can recall, we will celebrate our Founding in town this year. 🥸
This reminded me of a 2012 dispersed camping trip in the Lincoln National Forest in NM. We spent extensive time in a fire scar, and when I looked into it after the trip I learned it was a 2002 fire caused by a local (either OHV spark or cigarette). The fire destroyed 20 structures and the man confessed to negligently igniting the fire in his suicide note.
It is certainly better to accept the temporary inconveniences of carrying suppression equipment, avoiding hazardous times/conditions, and weathering seasonal closures, than to bear the guilt of causing a preventable disaster.
Thanks for post the PSA and for the comments and feedback. Main goal was to get recreationists who use OHV or cars/trucks to access trails or to drive to favorite camp sites or fishing holes. Also, glad to see local news media picking up the info and sharing like the Plumas Sun (dead center in the Dixie Fire burn scar). The FS and non profit recreation partners have worked hard on educational programs, but they don’t do any good if nobody knows about them. My two cents https://plumassun.org/2026/06/10/donsquatch-reminds-ohv-riders-to-help-prevent-wildfire/