Camping Safety – Outdoor Fires

Stay Safe while Camping!

Don’t forget to take with you the Extinguisher!

It doesn’t matter which Season we are in. If we are camping, we will have at least one campfire. Campfires are a staple for camping trips: roasting marshmallows, telling campfire stories, sharing laughs and creating memories, are things that a campfire brings to your camping trips; along with the warmth of the fire on a cool night, of course. Although campfires are mostly regarded for their ability to create a bond between you and those who sit around it, bonfires can also be very dangerous, if it's not handled with the proper safety precautions. 

By following these tips will ensure that your favorite camping tradition is both Fun and Safe!

1. Use only the designed rings or pits to build your fire.  These pits should be on gravel or dirt, never grass.

    

2. Clean the area of any dry leaves and sticks and make sure that automobiles, tents, campers and other items are placed at a considerable distance from the fire.

3. Stock extra wood upwind and away from the fire.

4. Check the weather forecast. Even a small amount of wind can blow burning debris or sparks onto a flammable surface or even You!

5. Start building your fire with small sticks and twigs, and gradually work your way up to the larger pieces of wood.  When planning the large pieces of wood on the fire, point them inwards and use another piece of wood to shift them to the desired spot.

    

6. Never use flammable liquids to ignite your fire. Please avoid gasoline, lighter fluid, diesel fluid, and other dangerous liquids, to prevent serious accidents and/or injuries.

7. Keep your campfire small and contained. A suggested size would be a 2ft. X 2ft. X 2ft. Fire.

8. Never allow children and pets to play or stand too close to the fire and never leave the fire unattended!

9. Keep a bucket of water and a fire extinguisher nearby, in case of emergencies, and teach children to stop, drop and roll, if their clothing ever catches fire.

    

10. When extinguishing the fire, make sure to drown the fire entirely with water. Many people forget that when coals are not cooled or extinguished completely, they can remain hot and capable of inflicting burns for 24 hours.