Don't be careless with fire and have your memories of a national park trip go up in flames/NPS

It's early July, and the high heat that's been baking the Southwest is slowly moving north and increasing the fire danger in a number of national parks.

So far this week Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, Curecanti National Recreation Area, and Yellowstone National Park are urging visitors to be careful with fire.

At Black Canyon and neighboring Curecanti in Colorado, the parks have instituted Stage 1 fire restrictions:

• Campfires are only allowed within designated fire grates in developed campgrounds (i.e. metal, in- ground containment structure). Fire pans and rock campfire rings are not acceptable. Beach fires are prohibited.
• No fires of any type, including charcoal, outside of developed areas
• No smoking except within an enclosed vehicle or building, a developed recreation site, or a barren area free of vegetation
• No use of explosive materials
• No welding or operation of an acetylene or other similar torch with open flame except from an area that has been cleared of vegetation
• No operation of any internal combustion engine without a spark-arresting device, properly installed and in working order

At Yellowstone, officials say fire danger is "moderate" across the park. While no specific restrictions have been put in place, always be careful with fire and never leave a campfire unattended.