Pleasant weather draws increasing numbers of people outdoors to enjoy activities such as camping, cookouts, and festivals. Campfires are common at such events; however, extra caution is necessary when maintaining any type of open flame. By observing the following 5 campfire safety tips, the chance of an incident that causes bodily injury or harm to the environment will be greatly reduced.
1. Choose A Smart Place For An Outdoor Fire
Use an existing fire pit if possible, otherwise choose a location that’s more than fifteen feet away from any tents, trees, bushes or anything else flammable. Anything within ten feet of the pit should be cleared away, like dried grass or leaves.
2. Maintain Fires Diligently
Fire pits should always be circled with rocks. Keep all campfires to a reasonable size, and be sure to observe any regulations concerning size limits. Store any extra wood or charcoal upwind and away from the flames. Never leave an open flame unattended, and always supervise closely any children and pets in the vicinity.
3. Respect Local Burning Laws
Avoid fueling a fire with anything that’s illegal to burn. Generally, only untreated wood or charcoal is legally burnable while plastics, tires and non-wood waste products are not. Never put anything potentially explosive or toxic into a fire such as pressurized containers or industrial chemicals. Also, glass and metal containers when burned will likely create a harmful breathable dust and leave behind sharp, dangerous fragments.
4. Cook Carefully
Avoid wearing loose clothing when cooking outdoors, especially on breezy days, and use only long-handled utensils. Spent coals should be disposed of properly in a metal container, never a wooden or plastic one.
5. Put it Out!
Have a shovel and plenty of water available to put out a campfire. If possible, the wood or coals should first be allowed to burn entirely to ash. Completely douse the sight with water until no more hissing is heard, then stir the embers and ashes with the shovel. Repeat the procedure if necessary until all the material is wet and cold to the touch; the sight will then be safe to leave.
For more campfire safety tips, check out: Hiking Safety Tips Everyone Should Follow!
Featured Image from Joshua Gresham/Unsplash
