12011 Family Campers and RVers

Campfire Safety

The Do’s and Don’ts of Campfires

Family Campers and RVers 2

If a fire gets out of control

it can be dangerous for people and wild

animals.

With these easy tips from Smokey the Bear,

you can make sure that never happens!

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Basic Campfire Safety

Never Leave a Fire Unattended

Put Your Match in the Fire

Keep Extra Wood Far Away

Keep a Fire Bucket and Shovel Nearby

Use a Campfire Pit

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USE A CAMPFIRE PIT

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Use a Campfire PitIf a fire pit is available, build your fire

there.If there is no pit, dig a small pit in an area

that isn’t under any tree branches.Remove any twigs, branches or grasses nearby that could catch fire.The ground should be clear down to the dirt five feet all the way around your pit.

The best kind of fire pit has stones or a metal ring encircling it.2011

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KEEP A BUCKET AND SHOVEL

NEARBY2011

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Keep a Fire Bucket and Shovel Nearby

Whenever you build a campfire, you should have a pail of water and shovel nearby.

Water to put on the fire to put out the flames.

Shovel to throw dirt on the fire, in case it gets out of control.

In kindness to the little animals in your campground, place a stickin the water bucket, so any critter that falls in can climb back out again.

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KEEP EXTRA WOOD FAR AWAY

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Keep Extra Wood Far Away

Your woodpile should be at least five feet away from the fire.

Keep your woodpile upwind to prevent any sparks fromigniting it.

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PUT YOUR MATCH IN THE

FIRE2011

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Put Your Match In The Fire

Use caution when lighting the fire.Gasoline is never safe to start a fire.

vapors spread and ignite.

Lighter fluid should only be used before the fire is lit to prevent the flames from flowing back to the can.

After lighting your fire, put the match in it.

Never toss away a match that is still hot or warm.

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NEVER LEAVE A FIRE

UNATTENDED2011

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Never Leave a Fire Unattended

This is the most important rule of all.

Never leave your fire unwatched, even for a minute.

When it is time for bed, extinguish the fire

completely.

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Extinguishing the Fire

Douse the fire with water.

Stir the ashes to look for smouldering embers.

Redouse it with water

Shovel dirt over the ashes to smother them.

It is better to put a lot of water on the firethan not enough.

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REAL STORIES

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May to June 2011 Springerville, Arizona

When forest officials were first called to the fire May 29, they noted the fire near a campfire.

A single campfire likely sparked the largest blaze

in Arizona history2011

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October 6, 2011Humboldt Township, MichiganA wildfire burned in western Marquette County. The fire was about 12 acres in size.

Officials suspect it may have started from a campfire.

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May 8, 2009Colorado, Manchester Creek Drainage

Burned about 10 acres

Caused by a camp fire that was not

properly extinguished.

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July 2009Denver, Colorado

Fire managers discovered over 20 unattended campfires in July in and around the Salida area alone.

Five of those fires leapt past the fire ring boundaries

and began wildfires.2011

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TAKE PRECAUTIONS AT ALL TIMESIn two of the cases presented,

it had recently snowed Wet weather may not prevent the spread of fires

Do not let mild weather cause you to be lazy in putting out your campfire

Even if it is not windy when you leave the fire, a gust could re-spark the fire

and spread it outside of the pit.2011

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Take the Smokey Bear PledgeI pledge to:BE SMART WHENEVER I GO OUTDOORSTo use caution and common sense before lighting

any fire.To understand that any fire I or my friends create

could become a wildfire.To understand and practice proper guidelines

whenever I or my friends create a fire outdoors.To never, ever leave any fire unattended.

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To make sure any fire that I or my friends create is properly and completely extinguished before moving on.

To properly extinguish and discard of smoking materials.

To be aware of my surroundings and be careful when operating equipment during periods of dry or hot weather.

To speak up and step in when I see someone in danger of starting a wildfire.

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Sign the pledge online http://www.smokeybear.com/take-pledge.asp

ONLY YOU CAN PREVENT WILDFIRES