Are you sure about that? I am unaware of any such comprehensive ban and I have been working (and playing occasionally)in US National Parks <snip> [/quote]

You are correct. I hunted around through the regulations and see no such rule. However I also have worked for the NFS and others and was repeatedly told they were banned. I do see that alcohol stoves are banned in some specific forests but it appears randomly enforced.

Again I learn the lesson to check my sources before repeating what I am told. Even if it comes from a "reliable" source.
Thanks for the correction.

Nomad