Campfire Safety Tips!

6/7/2021 (Permalink)

Having a campfire is a summer staple in Michigan. Check out our tips for having a safe and fun campfire!

Having campfires and making smores are common summertime staples in the great state of Michigan! However, camp fires can quickly get out of hand if they are not monitored or properly managed. Here is a list of tips and tricks to keep in mind this summer while sitting around the campfire!

1. Be aware of your surroundings by making sure the campfire is set up away from dry grass and leaves. Dried out grass and leaves catch fire easily, and they spread fire quickly too. Also, make sure your campfire is far away from hanging free branches that could catch on fire. 
2. Keep the size of the fire relatively small. Large fires are more risky, and pose a greater chance of getting out of control. 
3. It’s always a good idea to keep a shovel and water close by when you’re having a campfire, so you can safely put the fire out when finished. According to smokeybear.com, to put a fire out, follow these steps: Pour lots of water on the fire, and drown ALL embers, not just the red ones. Pour water until hissing sound stops. With your shovel, scrape any remaining sticks and logs to remove any embers. Make sure that no embers are exposed and still smoldering .Continue adding water, dirt or sand and stir with a shovel until all material is cool. If it’s too hot to touch, it’s too hot to leave. https://smokeybear.com/en/prevention-how-tos/campfire-safety/how-to-maintain-and-extinguish-your-campfire 
4. If you are enjoying your fire at a campground or RV park, make sure to follow park rules for starting and putting out fires. 
5. Never leave a campfire unattended. 
6. Do not put anything other than wood into the fire. 
7. Do not pull sticks out of the fire when blazing
8. Check out the weather before starting a campfire, and do not make one if the forecast shows wind. Wind can cause the fire to spread!

We hope that by sharing these tips, you will feel confident hosting a campfire for your friends and family! However, if fire damage does occur, we are here to help and are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Enjoy the smores, everybody!