Campfire Safety Tips
Are you a campfire person? For many of us, the cool air of a summer night conjures up memories of toasting marshmallows and telling spooky stories around a campfire with your best buds. Outdoor fires continue to be more popular than ever before. If you engage in campfire fun with family and friends, be sure to practice good safety habits.
For a safer campfire, add a screen - The age and type of wood can sometimes affect how it burns. That can mean popping, crackling and sparks flying. To avoid the burn of a stray ember, your fire should be covered with a protective screen.
Phone it in - If you plan to have a campfire, phone it in. Many towns have a special phone number that you can call to let local officials know that you'll be burning a fire on your property. This way, if anything goes wrong they'll know exactly where to show up with the fire hoses.
If you dig a fire pit, be sure it's large and deep enough - The recommendation is 4 feet in diameter and 12 inches deep. There should also be a border of large stones around the fire, to ensure that the flames are kept to one spot. Leave 2 inches of space between the stones for proper air flow.
Have a water source nearby - This means a working hose that's hooked up and ready to go if necessary. Typically, you can put out a fire by shoveling dirt from the bottom of the fire pit over the burning embers and wood. But if you want to be more quick about stopping the fire, then use the hose method. This unfortunately creates a ton of smoke, but it may be your best option in certain circumstances.
Teach kids to stay back from the fire - Also do not allow anyone to run around near the fire pit, where both the flames and the large stones pose a risk. Avoid having people wear loose clothing which could catch on fire if the individual is tending or poking at the fire.
Don't forget about stop, drop and roll - This is fire safety 101, taught from the beginning in preschool. Remind all of your campfire attendees that stop, drop and roll is still the best way to put out a fire in someone's clothes catch an ember.
Avoid smoke inhalation - If your fire begins to billow out smoke for whatever reason (green wood, spraying water on it to put it out), instruct everyone present to leave the area until the smoke clears.
Don't start a campfire on a windy night - If you're not sure if it's good campfire weather, you can consult with your local fire department to be sure. Some towns regularly post a risk of forest fire number which is good to know if you host campfires near a wooded area or in a neighborhood where the homes are closer together.
When in doubt, put it out! If you're ever wondering if this is the wrong time for a campfire, it probably is. Best to be safe than sorry... so put it out!
So see you tomorrow for your next summerlicious recipe!
Your happy WAHM, Stephanie Gilbert
https://stephiethehappymom.com
https://www.facebook.com/StephieTheHappyMom
https://www.pinterest.ca/stephiethehappymom