Campfire Safety

[renodesertfox]

Howdy,
All of us enjoy a good campfire. It has so many uses -- heating, cooking, roasting marshmallows and providing story-telling atmosphere. Below are a few basic camp fire safety tips to help you and your family have a safe and fun camping vacation.



Campfires & Grills -

• Supervise children at all times when fires are burning or grills are in use.
• When near campfires and grills, wear snug fitting, tightly woven, short sleeved or less-combustible clothing.
• Make sure everyone knows how to put out a clothing fire - STOP, DROP and ROLL.
• Handle flammable liquids with care.
• Store flammable liquids only in metal containers, preferably safety cans.
• Store all flammable liquids at asafe distance from your tent, camper trailer or any source of heat or open flame.
• Use flammable liquids only for their intended purpose - NOT to start a fire.
• Fill lanterns and stoves a safe distance downwind from fireplaces, grills and other sources of heat or open flames.
• Use a funnel when pouring flammable liquids, and clean up any spills immediately.
• Carry only a minimal amount of flammable liquids, and make sure all caps are tight.
• Handle tanks of compressed flammable gas with caution. Follow the precautions indicated on the tank.
• Use only the recommended fuel for lanterns, stoves, etc. Do NOT use gasoline.
• Consider purchasing lantern fuel at or near your destination, to reduce the risk of fire while traveling.
• Use charcoal electric starter of an approved type or chemicals in cake form to start your charcoal fire.
• Never add fire starter after you have started your barbecue to speed a slow fire or rekindle a dying fire.
• Tuck dry kindling under coals.
• Make sure the barbecue stand is level and steady. Keep a water container nearby when the coal is burning.
• When cooking is over, soak the coals to prevent their re-ignition.
• Never keep damp or wet charcoal in an unventilated area due to the dangers of spontaneous combustion that can result from drying.
• When camping out, exercise special care with flammable liquids and an open flame near tents.

Camping Tents & Fire Safety -

• Read the labels before purchasing a tent. Buy only a flame-resistant tent. A paraffin coated cotton tent can burn up in a few minutes with someone trapped inside.
• Pitch your tent at least 15 feet upwind from grills and fireplaces.
• Have an escape plan, and be prepared to cut your way out of the tent if a fire occurs.
• Use only battery-operated lights in or near tents and campers.
• Keep a fire extinguisher or container of water available at all times.
• Maintain at least a three-foot clear area, free of leaves, dry gr**** pine needles, etc., around grills, fireplaces and tents.
• Thoroughly extinguish all fires, and turn off fuel lanterns and stoves, before leaving the campsite or going to bed.
• Never use candles or matches in or near a tent; use a flashlight.
• Extra care should be excised when using electricity and lighting in or near a tent.
• When using heaters, keep them well away from walls, pillows, camping chairs, in fact, all contents of the tent.
• It is recommended that a portable smoke detector be part of every holidayer’s equipment.
• Campers carrying fuel for propane/gasoline type stoves in the trunk of the car should never leave the fuel in the trunk over the weekend or any longer than needed to transport it. If you are planning a full day’s drive to a campsite, take the precaution of opening the trunk periodically to ventilate the compartment.
• Never freshen a fire with a liquid starter. Explosions can result. Keep liquid fuel away from your tent and children.
• All fire laws, ordinances and regulations should be strictly observed.
• Adults should always supervise their children around fires. Every year children are burned while in their own backyards experimenting with campfires, candles, tents and gasoline.

Camping Trailers & Fire Safety -

• Use only electrically operated lights in trailers.
• Keep cooking and heating equipment in safe condition.
• Check and maintain gas connections and fume vents.
• Keep combustibles away from cooking and heating equipment.
• Keep a fire extinguisher available at all times, especially when cooking, but keep it by the camper/trailer exit door.
• Develop a fire escape plan with your family.
• Extinguish all smoking materials before going to bed, and soak with water. In case of an actual or suspected fire, get everyone to safety before calling for help or attempting to extinguish the flames. Fires spread very fast!

[renodesertfox]

Howdy,
Camp fire - a device used to heat bacon grease to a temperature hot enough such that it can be combined with cold water, producing entertainment for the kids and a team-building experience for adults as they try to maximize the entertainment. Lighting the campfire itself sometimes serves as good entertainment as well. Also serves as the camp recycle container and television set, and is very useful for choking the camp cook out of the kitchen. Occasionally, you'll find the odd person actually using it's heating abilities to get warm as if they were on a rotisserie.