Firefighters hike back to camp after fighting the Tucker Fire in the Modoc National Forest. (Inciweb)

ALTURAS, Calif.— The Tucker Fire is the largest and most recent wildfire this year on the Modoc National Forest. It and two other fires this year are suspected to have been unintentionally caused by people, including the Goose 2 and Rainbow fires earlier this season.

Many human-caused fires can be prevented by following these safety precautions:

Fireworks are never safe or legal on any national forest.
Never dispose of a cigarette in an area it could possibly start a fire.
Practice safe towing. Dragging chains throws sparks.
Make sure your vehicle is properly maintained, with nothing dragging on the ground.
Maintain proper tire pressure. Driving on exposed wheel rims will throw sparks.
Do not drive your vehicle onto dry grass or brush. Hot exhaust parts can start fires.
Brakes worn too thin may cause metal to metal contact, which can cause a spark.

Make sure campfires are fully extinguished before leaving them unattended:

Allow the wood to burn completely to ash, if possible.
Pour lots of water on the fire.
Drown all embers, not just the red ones.
Pour until hissing sound stops.
If water is not available, stir dirt or sand into the embers with a shovel to bury the fire.
Scrape any remaining sticks and logs to remove any embers.
Make sure no embers are exposed and still smoldering.
Continue adding water, dirt or sand and stirring with a shovel until all material is cool.
If it is too hot to touch, it is too hot to leave.

Learn more about how to do your part at https://www.readyforwildfire.org/prevent-wildfire/one-less-spark-campaign/ and https://smokeybear.com/en.

Klamath Falls News coverage of the 2019 Wildfire Season is brought to you by Ace Towing.

Ace Towing helps with emergency road side assistance 24-hours a day. They help with lockouts, jump starts, collision towing, flat tires, fuel and more.