The Campfire...
The romance and the danger

One thing is for certain, campfires are a cabin tradition!

But along with the tradition comes a certain element of danger.

Children and fires

I heard a story the other day about a family friend whose little boy was going to toss a stick into a bed of glowing embers. As he got close he tripped and fell face first onto the coals. He has undergone several operations, and more will follow, to try to reconstruct his face and hands. Tragic. In the fun of a fire and roasting hot dogs and marshmallows, it's all too easy to get just a little bit careless.

Preventing a tragedy such as this requires constant diligence... something that can't be forgotten for a second!

To ensure the safety of children around fires, create a barrier of some sort, at least 1 meter or 3 feet out from the fire, over which young children are not allowed to cross without adult supervision. The picture above shows a ring made from rocks... it's simple, but makes a definite line that children know they cannot cross.

Who will be responsible for putting out the fire?

Know in advance who will take responsibility for fully extinguishing the fire at the end of the evening.

Socializing around a fire often lasts late into the night... a time when attention to detail may be lacking. A combination of being tired, possibly alcohol has been consumed, and often the night air is chilly once the fire is low.

All of these elements may contribute to a less than thorough job of fully extinguishing the embers. This may seem innocent enough if the night is calm, but if the wind picks up later in the night... as it often will... it will stir up any glowing embers, even the ones under the surface of the charred remains, and could easily start a major blaze.



Make sure the fire is completely out before you leave it unattended. Fire is a powerful force. A fire that looks like it is out on the surface can still retain an incredible amount of heat. Douse and stir many times. Make sure there is no heat radiating when you place your hand close.

Keep a hose, buckets of water, sand, and/or a fire extinguisher close by the campfire. At least one flashlight, and maybe more if there are a lot of people, should be close at hand as well. And know exactly where everything is so that when it gets dark, you can find what you need quickly in an emergency!

Some other safety tips

When planning your evening by the fire, always have alternate plans in place in case the weather becomes unsuitable for your fire.

Check your local bylaws and be aware of any temporary fire bans before setting the match to the wood. When grass and vegetation dry out in the heat of summer, fires start very easily. A simple spark is enough to ignite dry grass.

Never use gasoline or other fuel! It should be obvious, but we've likely all heard some horror stories about starting fires with gas. It's a really, really bad idea. Brings to mind the Darwin Awards!

Choose an open site away from trees and buildings. Never have a campfire when it is windy. Burning embers can be carried a great distance and start a fire well out of your reach to put them out.

Campfires can be wonderful and memorable experiences. By doing a little advance safety planning you will ensure that a tragedy is not one your memories.

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