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 Home Fire Safety
Campfire Safety
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Clockwise from top left: campfire fun, roasting marshmallows, fire ring. |
What could be more fun than roasting marshmallows, singing songs, and socializing around an open fire in the evening? Follow this simple advice from the
U.S. Forest Service to help make sure
everyone will have happy memories:
Make Your Campfire Safe
Build campfires away from overhanging branches, steep slopes, rotten stumps or logs, dry grass and leaves. Use fire rings or grills when provided. Pile wood away from the fire.
Scrape away litter, duff, and any burnable material in a 10-foot wide circle. This will keep a small campfire from spreading.
Keep water handy. Quick action will prevent fire spread to surrounding areas.
Keep campfires small. A good bed of coals or small fire surrounded by rocks gives plenty of heat for cooking and warmth.
Never leave fire unattended. A breeze may come up while you're gone and spread the fire.
Be sure your matches are out! If your match is not to be thrown into a campfire, then be sure it's out! Hold until cold. Break it so that the charred portion is felt before discarding. Be sure it’s COLD OUT!
How To Be Sure Your Campfire Is Out
Drown it with water. Make sure all embers, coals, and sticks are wet. Move rocks, there may be burning embers underneath.
Stir. Add more water and stir again. Be sure all burning material has been extinguished and cooled.
Feel all sticks and charred material. Feel the coals and ashes. Make sure no roots are burning.
No water? Use dirt. Mix enough soil or sand with embers and the fire will go out. Continue adding and stirring until all material is cold enough to feel with your bare hand. (Don't just bury it - it may smolder and break out again!)
Dunk charcoal briquets! Don't sprinkle – put briquets in water and leave them until cold. Check with your hand to be sure they are out.
Tips on Building a Campfire
Start with dry twigs and small sticks.
Add larger sticks as the fire builds up.
Put largest pieces of wood on last - be careful not to make a sudden shower of sparks.
To keep a good fire going, place large pieces of wood outside and gradually push them into the flames.
Conserve your matches. (Carry a candle as a fire starter.)
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