When journeying in the outdoors, fire safety should be at the top of your priority list. Fire can present a lot of opportunities to enjoy the outdoors – from gathering around a campfire to heat food, to basking in its warmth, and creating beautiful displays of lightning at night. But if handled recklessly, fire can quickly become a hazard; luckily, with some precautionary measures, you can reduce the danger and maximize your outdoor experiences. In this article, we explore fire safety in the outdoors, and provide some tips on preventing and managing potential campfire-induced mishaps.
1. Don’t Play with Fire: Campfire Safety Tips
When camping, building a roaring campfire to keep warm, make s’mores, or simply admire is one of the highlights of any forest adventure. But if not handled properly, it can cause injury, destruction, or even death. To ensure your campfire experience remains a pleasant one, here are some Invaluable Campfire Safety Tips.
Check Local Fire Regulations
The first thing you should do before building a campfire is check your local firewood laws and regulations. Depending on the time of year, campers may be prohibited from building a fire at certain times and in certain areas. It is also important to note that many areas may also restrict campfires to within 3 feet of the ground in locations such as campfire circles. Always make sure to stay up to date on the laws, ordinances, and restrictions in the areas you plan to camp.
Adequately Prepare the Site
Once you’ve identified an acceptable area to build a fire, prepare the spot appropriately. Create a ring of stones with an inside diameter of at least 10 feet to contain it. Make sure to pour water over the stones when the fire is finished to ensure the fire is properly out and the stones won’t remain hot to the touch. Additionally, remove any combustible materials such as leaves, sticks and dried grasses from the surrounding area.
No Combustible Liquids
Never use gasoline, kerosene, or any other combustible liquids to ignite or fuel the fire. Such liquids can easily flare-up and cause an explosive fire that spreads quickly and can lead to serious injuries.
Keep Kids and Pets Away
Keep any children or pets away from the fire until it is completely out and cold. Children should always be supervised by an adult when the fire is burning and pets should be on a leash and kept at a safe distance.
Be Responsible When Lighting and Extinguishing a Fire
When lighting the campfire, always use a suitable fire starter such as:
- Small twigs and branches
- Strips of birch bark
- Wood shavings and chips
- Dryer lint
- Paper
- Strips of cloth
When extinguishing the fire, always take the necessary steps to ensure the fire is completely out. When water isn’t available, use a shovel to cover the fire with dirt. Make sure to check for any smoldering embers and repeat the process until the fire is cool to the touch.
2. Managing Your Campfire: Tips for a Safe Campsite Environment
Keeping your campfire under control is essential for minimizing the risk of injury, property damage and environmental damage. Here are a few tips on managing your campfire to create a safe campsite environment.
- Choose the Right Site – When choosing a location for your campfire, make sure that it’s a safe distance away from your tent, other campsites, trees, and other combustible materials. The best location would be a recently dug fire pit with existing stones and solid soil.
- Clear the Surrounding Area – When preparing a fire pit, it’s important to clear away any materials that could catch fire. This includes any tall grass, leaves, branches, logs, and other combustible materials. Keep a minimum of three meters away from the pit.
Before lighting your fire, it’s important to check the local rules and regulations. Some places have restrictions in place that prohibit campfires during certain times of the year. It’s also important to check the current weather conditions – strong winds can spread embers and cause the fire to grow out of control.
Keep an eye on the fire at all times and ensure that it’s always kept under control. Use a shovel to keep the flames under control and never leave a campfire burning unattended. When the fire starts to die down, make sure to spread its ashes with a shovel and pour plenty of water to douse any burning embers.
Avoid adding flammable substances like gasoline and kerosene to the fire. This can cause hazardous conditions and lead to an uncontrollable fire. Also, be mindful when adding other substances such as wood, logs, branches, and paper to the fire. All of these materials can cause the fire to grow out of control if put in too large of quantities.
Finally, before leaving the campsite make sure the fire has been completely extinguished. Ensure that all embers have been drenched with water and that all remaining materials are able to cool down before your departure.
3. When Fire Escapes Control: Preventing and Handling Campfire Incidents
Campfires are essential to life outdoors, but they are not without danger. It’s important to know the risks and how to properly handle fire escape incidents. Here are essential tips to prevent and manage campfire emergencies:
- Always keep a close eye on the fire. Only keep the fire going until it is necessary and always check that it is completely extinguished. Never leave a fire unattended.
- Choose a safe spot for your fire. Look for an open, non-flammable area to build your fire. Make sure there are no trees or branches near it. Never dig out a cave or build a fire in an enclosed space.
- Collect the right equipment. Prior to building your fire, make sure to have the right supplies to manage it safely. Gather pine cones, branches, kindling, an axe, fire starter, and matches or a lighter.
- Build the fire safely. Be mindful of the dryness of your wood and the size of the flames. Don’t stack the logs too high and create as little smoke as possible.
It’s important to be aware of the weather to avoid fire escape incidents. If the conditions are windy or wet, don’t start a fire. If your location is hot and dry, always have multiple buckets of water on hand for emergency situations.
Always have fire suppression methods ready in case of an emergency. Store a nearby bucket of sand as a first line of defense, and set an emergency plan in place. Have everyone familiarize themselves with the plan so they know what to do in the event of a fire escape.
If you do experience a fire emergency, never panic. Stay calm and assess the situation. Eliminate any possible sources of fuel and smother or stir the fire to lower the risk of serious damage. Remember to close all of the airways to smolder the last remaining flames. Once the fire is out, remember to immediately extinguish the embers, stir the ash and soak the area with water.
4. Beyond the Basics: Further Fire Safety Considerations for the Outdoors
Once you’ve mastered the basics of fire safety, you can finally feel confident and safe while you build those mesmerizing campfires. But that doesn’t mean you should let your guard down – there are a few more points to consider if you want to avoid risking your health and safety.
Be Prepared to Put Out Fires Quickly
It’s essential that every time you light a fire, you’re equipped to put it out. Keep plenty of water and a fire shovel on hand, and take note of the local fire department’s emergency services number – just in case you need to get help quickly.
You should also give yourself plenty of time to ensure the fire is extinguished fully before you head home. Don’t shortchange the process – regardless of how much hustle and bustle is going on around you.
Be Aware of Your Surroundings
Starts fires in a designated location, and never forget to check the wind. If the wind speed is greater than 10 mph, you might be better off postponing your fire until a calmer night. The same goes if you can’t guarantee that the area is completely surrounded by non-flammable surfaces. For instance, don’t ever start a fire near a dry bush, tall grass, or even a pile of leaves – these combustibles can be ignited in an instant.
Build Sensible Fire Pits
If you’re determined to start a fire and stay around for a while, make sure you do it at least 20 feet away from any combustible material and 3 feet away from any nearby ledge or wall. You could also dig a fire pit to contain the fire as much as possible.
Creating a fire ring is essential for any fire that you plan on leaving unattended. A fire ring will ensure no flames or embers can ignite nearby vegetation.
Some people take their fire-building skills to the next level, and construct fire pits in their backyards. If you’re particularly handy with tools and feel confident with your construction skills, it might be worth giving this a go. Just make sure the finished product complies with all fire safety codes, and regularly check it for signs of wear and tear.
It’s important to remember that with a few basic steps, enjoying a campfire is safe and enjoyable. Follow the fire safety tips outlined in this article, and you’ll be sure to have a trip full of fun and memories that will last you a lifetime. Here’s to safe campfires – and happy camping!
