We find these "blinds" all the time while patrolling for the USFS. Hunters use them as camouflage on unsuspecting deer during the hunting season. They are illegal and we tear them down when we find them. It appears that hunters have prep the area for hunting season next month. Please reveal the location so we can dismantle it. From the picture it appears to be about the same place we find them all the time, up on Frost Peak. Anybody with half a brain knows what could happen if you light a campfire in that ring, which is also illegal.
As volunteers with the USFS, we understand that many people don't realize that, while it is legal in other national forests, you can't just build a campfire anywhere you want in the Angeles National Forest. It is illegal. We are the "nice guys" and are there to inform visitors as to the rules of our forest. Two weekends ago while on patrol I was checking the usual places that people will build illegal campfire rings, Frost Peak, Heath Canyon Slide, Slover Canyon, etc. At the edge of the Slide I came upon a tent with a beautifully constructed fire ring with fresh wood stacked along side it, sitting right in front of the tent. I asked if anybody was home. A man emerged from the tent. I proceeded with my usual friendly instruction about the campfire ring being illegal. I don't know if we have "idiot" written across our faces or what but he came back with a very common response: "Oh that's not mine, that was already here". At the same time, his girl friend from inside the tent began cussing me out.
Keeping my friendly composure I again explained that while they are welcome to camp there and are allowed to use gas or sterno stoves (with a valid Campfire Permit), you can only have campfires in established USFS campfire rings in the campgrounds. The girl friend continued to cuss me out. The gentleman was very nice and kept telling her to be quiet, which she wouldn't. So I had to be a little more stern, still with a friendly smile on my face. I said: "Let me tell you what is going to happen. Whether you built the campfire ring or not, you are responsible for it since it is in your camp. You're going to break down that campfire ring and throw the rocks over the side and get rid of all that freshly cut wood, either putting it back in your truck, or throwing it over the side as well. I'm going to notify Patrol 38, Engine 338 and Edward 17 of the situation here. Later today either myself or one of them will be back here to check to see if this ring is still here. If it is, as you can imagine, they take illegal fires very seriously. You don't just get a ticket. You'll have to take a day off from work to appear before the Federal Judge in downtown Los Angeles at the Federal Courts building and he'll decide how much the fine will be up to $5,000 and possible confinement up to 6 months in jail. You don't want to be like that guy we just heard of in the news that is going to spend years in jail because of an illegal campfire. If you don't show up before the Federal Judge, he will issue a federal bench warrant and the next time you get stopped or your license plate is run, you'll be arrested on federal charges."
I told him: "I'm just letting you know how serious they take illegal campfires in this forest, I'm being the nice guy. It is just not worth it." The gentleman was very apologetic and happy that I had informed him of the seriousness of the illegal campfire ring and assured me he would take care of it. I told him: "You have a good day sir, it's a beautiful place to camp but it's going to get cold and windy on this ridge tonight." I never did see his girlfriend but as I walked back to the truck she was still cussing me out from inside the tent.
The campfire ring was gone when I came back through the area.
