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Campfire Safety

by Jeff
(Canada)

Wildfire

Wildfire

Basic campfire safety should be a skill for everyone heading out on a camping adventure. Did you know that more than four out of every five forest fires are started by people? You don’t want not start a wildfire. Not only because of the disastrous consequences a wildfire can have for the nature and nearby settlement but also because a wildfire could trap you.


Remember the campfire safety rules:

1.
Build a fire only on bare rock, sand or mineral soil - clear all vegetation away from your fireplace.

2.
Use stones to surround your campfire.

3.
Keep your campfire small.

4.
Keep water nearby for throwing on the fire if it gets out of control.

5.
Never leave a campfire unattended


When putting out your campfire:

1.
Drown the campfire with water.



2.
Make sure all embers, coals, and sticks are wet.

3.
Feel all materials with your bare hand. Everything including the stones surrounding the campfire should be cool to the touch.

4.
When you think you are done add more water - take the time to completely put out your campfire.

If you don't have water at hand, or if it is scarce, then use dust and dirt to put out your campfire. Check your fireplace even more carefully before leaving.

Comments for
Campfire Safety

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Mar 08, 2009
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Nights
by: Anonymous

In stories, people may do it, but never leave your fire on at night.
Dec 21, 2007
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Camp fire
by: Anonymous

Where you build the camp fire is important. Don't build one on the side of a hill or bluff. A change in the wind can make the fire go completely out of control. Especially an updraft. I know this first hand. It happened to a friend and I at our camp site when we were 13yrs old. We literally ran for our lives and called the fire dept. It got out of Control in less than 2 minutes and we didn't have enough water, even if we did it would have gone out of control. It happened so fast. We threw our tent over it to smother it when it started to get away from us. The fire blew out from under the tent and now it was out of our control.
Dec 15, 2007
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Teach the kids
by: Nellie

Thanks for great advice. I will teach my grandchildren these simple rules. They almost started a wildfire three months ago when they was camping in the forest a couple of miles from our house. Thank God my son was able to stop it.
Dec 13, 2007
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		one more thing to add
by: Dave

I like the bit about "with your bare hand" But I think you should emphasize that, if the builder is NOT willing to stick his bare hand in to the fireplace, then it isn't out enough to walk away from. Douse it more, until one is willing to trust their own fingers in the pit.

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