There is no doubt that one of the best things about going camping is being able to have a campfire. We love it and will have a fire at any opportunity that we can. But whenever we do have a campfire, we always keep in mind the need for campfire safety.
Sadly, I have read too many stories about serious injuries occurring from accidents involving campfires. The other major concern when having a campfire, is the risk of that fire expanding into a larger fire.
So, here are a few tips for staying safe around your campfire.
CLEAR THE AREA
Many campgrounds that allow campfires have purpose built fire pits or provide fire drums that can be used to contain your fire in. If this is not the case you will need to clear an area of ground to light your fire on. Make sure the area is clear of long, dry grass, leaf litter and twigs. Also never build a campfire underneath over-hanging branches of trees as embers may fly into the branches and ignite. If available, a few rocks can be used to enclose an area for your fire. Many people carry folding screens that can be used as a wind break if need be.
Always keep fires a safe distance from tents and motor vehicles – at least three metres is the recommended distance.
OBSERVE FIRE RESTRICTIONS
We live in a country that is very prone to bush fires. I know from growing up in rural NSW just how quickly a fire can take hold given the right conditions. They can spread with terrifying speed. Never ever light a fire when a total fire ban is in place or on hot, windy days. If you are unsure about current restrictions check with your local fire authority.
Always closely supervise small children around fires. Make sure that they play at a safe distance from the fire and that any chairs are a safe distance away. A number of injuries occur each year from children tripping and falling into fires.
KEEP YOUR FIRE SMALL
Having a smaller fire will be more easy to manage than a large fire. A large, built up fire will emit more embers and heat and be harder to manage should weather conditions change suddenly.
DON’T LEAVE YOUR FIRE UNATTENDED
Before going to bed or leaving your campsite for an extended period of time, ensure your fire is out. You never know when some wind may cause it to flare up again. Allow the wood to burn to ash if possible, before leaving it for the night.
EXTINGUISH YOUR FIRE
When you are packing up and leaving your camp site make sure you extinguish your fire with water. This will ensure that there is no chance of your fire flaring up again. Never use sand or dirt to extinguish your fire as the coals can continue to emit heat for up to eight hours. Fires ‘extinguished’ in this way commonly cause burnt feet when people unwittingly walk across the fire site.
If you know that you are going to be having a campfire, consider taking an extra container of water and keep it nearby to your fire.
JUST BURN WOOD
Only burn timber in your camp fire. Do not burn things liked tin cans, glass or plastic bottles or waxed cardboard. Glass bottles can explode and potentially cause serious injuries to you or other campers in the future.
By following these few simple tips, the next time you go camping and have a campfire should be incident free.