Campfire Safety Tips

Having the smell of a campfire is one of the best feelings you can obtain. Fires with loved ones around can symbolize lots of things, a celebration, someone's birthday, a special camping trip or just to pass a night away. The best parts of having a fire are the scenes and the people you can share it with. Enjoying one that is during a cold night is done well in the fall or to say goodbye to summer. Whatever your reason to enjoy a family campfire, be sure to do so safely.

The first rule of thumb is to never permit children to start their own campfires. This may seem as if it is self-explanatory, but believe it or not many kids each year become seriously injured just by being around a campfire or starting their own while they are not being supervised properly. Teach your children to always be careful and to not have any dealings with fires unless you or another adult is present. Inside parks there will be several places that have provide fire setups that are safe and far away from any shrubbery. If you are doing it at your own home, or somewhere on a hiking trip be sure to follow these rules:

~Do not allow children to start fires ever

~Make a pit to have the fire inside that is far away from any trees that can catch a light

~Use rocks to form a circle around the fire pit area you will be using

~It is best to make the path clear all the way down to the soil (about 5 feet)

~Ensure that you have a bucket of water or a hose nearby

~Place all extra wood somewhere that is out of the path of the fire

~Once you have lit the fire, if you used a match throw it away once it has cooled down

~Do not ever walk away from the fire or leave it to burn without anyone attending it

Campfires are meant to be fun and relaxing. Once they turn dangerous, those involved can develop a healthy fear of fires that can last a lifetime. Little ones should be taught during these prime family moments how to do things safely and not as a part of a thrill or something that shouldn't be taken seriously. Keep children away from the flames and do not allow them to throw just anything inside the flames, show them what is acceptable and what is not. Lighting the fire can be done with a match, a lighter or even a magnifying glass if you wish. Begin the fire with items that are small in size such as twigs and branches that are small and gradually make the flames large by adding bigger pieces.