Camping and campfires go hand in hand. It is difficult to imagine going camping without building a fire to roast marshmallows over and to tell apparition stories around. Without appropriate safety etiquette, your campfire could transform your camping trip into a disaster.
Choosing a Safe Location For Your Campfire
Most commercial campgrounds already have preexisting fire rings to utilize. Except if the fire ring is in a dangerous spot, you should build your fire there. The campground proprietors have likely already considered this as a safe location to build a fire. The fire ring will help contain sparks and keep your fire from spreading.
If your campsite does not have a fire ring, you will have to create one. First find a detect that meets these criteria:
- downwind at least 5 feet away from your tent and firewood
- away from trees, shrubberies, logs, stumps and overhanging branches
- away from dry grass and forest debris
- away from any other flammable items
If your campsite has a fire ring already, check if it meets the above criteria too. The landscape around your campsite might have changed since the fire ring was initially built. There might now be a branch that overhangs the current fire ring.
Preparing Your Campfire Area
how to boil water while camping? Once you have picked where to build your campfire, you need to guarantee that the area is totally clear of anything that could ignite. It is best to clear the ground right down to the soil within about 5 feet of your fire pit. Surrounding twigs and dry leaves could easily catch fire from a wayward spark.
Next dig a shallow pit about 2 feet across and encircle this pit with a ring of medium sized rocks. These stones ought to be placed snuggly together without any gaps where sparks could fly through. Eliminate any small, free stones from the pit that might actually detonate from the fire’s heat.
Before you begin building your campfire, make sure you have equipment on hand to extinguish your fire. You will require a large basin of water and a digging tool. Keep these things adequately close to your fire pit that they are quickly accessible in an emergency. If the ground around your campsite is too hard to scoop, also keep a can of sand or dirt nearby.
Safely Igniting Your Campfire
Avoid using lighter fluid or other chemicals to start your fire. These powers are dangerous to use in the wilderness. They can startlingly flare up and catch your clothing on fire. Instead utilize a lighter or match to ignite your kindling. Try not to discard any pre-owned matches until they are cool to the touch.