Campfire Safety During Drought
It’s been a dry, hot camping season in most of the country, especially where I live in California. The “Governator” is already warning us of lower than expected water levels and the need for conservation. That makes our beloved camping areas very susceptible to fires. So, as campers we need to pay special attention to our campfires. Most developed campgrounds have well-established campfire rings or pits in their campsites however, you should still be aware of a few wise safety rules when you make a campfire:
- Always clear a five-foot area around the fire ring down to the soil, so leaping sparks can’t start a ground fire.
- Keep a bucket of water and a shovel close by
- Pile your wood upwind and away from the fire. This may be difficult in a shifting wind area, but just make sure wood is far away from the campfire
- Never leave a campfire unattended
Lastly, the most important part is putting your fire out after you’ve enjoyed having marshmallows and telling spooky stories. Allow the fire to burn down to ash and very small coals. Pour plenty of water on the ambers and stir the ashes until they are soaked through. You can tell when the fire is completely extinguished when you can safely put your hand in the coals. This Boy Scout method kind of makes you want to make doubly sure that you put enough water on the fire. 
Thinking of bringing your own firewood to your campout? Hold on…and read this. The U.S. Forest Service is encouraging campers not to bring their own firewood. Why? Because insect infested firewood is causing billions of dollars in forest damage.
