October 4-10 is Fire Prevention Week, it is observed each year during the week of October 9th in tribute of the Great Chicago Fire. The fire began on October 8, 1871, and killed more than 250 people, left 100,000 people homeless, destroyed more than 17,000 structures, and burned more than 2,000 acres of land. The National Fire Protection Association has sponsored Fire Prevention Week since 1922. To learn more about the NFPA click here.
While this year’s theme is Fire Safety in the Kitchen, remember that we also cook on grills and campfires outside.
Some tips for campfire safety, directly from Smokey Bear himself:
1. Don’t build a campfire if the campground, area, or event prohibits them
2. Don’t build a campfire in hazardous, dry conditions
3. Find out if there is an existing fire pit for use
4. If there isn’t one already there, and you can build a campfire, choose a site at least 15 feet from tent walls, shrubs, trees, or other flammable objects – and be aware of low hanging branches
5. Choose an open, level location away from heavy fuels (i.e. logs, brush, decaying leaves)
6. Take the wind, and its direction into account and choose a spot that is protected from gusts
To correctly build your pit follow these steps:
1. Clear an area 10 feet in diameter of grass, twigs, leaves and firewood
2. Dig a pit about 1 foot deep
3. Circle the pit with rocks
To properly maintain and extinguish your campfire:
1. Always have a source of water, bucket, and shovel nearby
2. Keep the fire small and under control
3. Never leave your campfire unattended
4. Allow the wood to burn completely to ash, if possible
5. Pour lots of water on the fire to drown all embers, continue to pour until hissing stops
6. If you don’t have water, stir dirt or sand into the embers with a shovel to bury the fire
7. Scrape any remaining sticks and logs with a shovel to remove embers
8. Continue adding water, dirt or sand and stirring with a shovel until all material is cool
Remember: If it’s too hot to touch, it’s too hot to leave
Something to consider when camping on State Forest Land in Pennsylvania during the springtime:
"If a campfire is desired during spring fire season -- you must obtain permission from the district forester to have a campfire from March 1 through May 25; no campfires are permitted when the district forester determines the forest fire danger to be high, very high, or extreme."
Always check with the State Forest District Office before building a fire.
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