Each year, millions of acres of our wildlands go up in flames, with over 50% of these fires nationwide caused by humans, including campfires. Not only do these loose fires threaten the natural environment, but with the growing wildland-urban interface, increased numbers of homes and businesses are also consumed.
We have a very dedicated and well-trained cadre of professional wildland and urban fire crews, plus a multitude of volunteer firefighters that place themselves in harm's way every year to protect our natural resources, homes, businesses, and lives.
The professionals at StreetWise work with fire crews all across the country with emergency training, logistical support, and computer software and understand the inherent danger firefighters have to work through.
Many of these man made fires can be prevented if we do a better job of practicing fire safety during our camping excursions; therefore, it is important that fire safety is practiced when tent or RV camping.
Your Camping Trip and Fire Safety
A campfire is the proverbial heart of the camping experience. Providing warmth, light, and a way to cook your food, it fuels your adventure and helps you make memories.
A poorly built, maintained, and extinguished campfire can cause a fire hazard. As an outdoorsman and nature lover, it is essential to know how to safely and responsibly enjoy your campfire. Use these campfire safety tips to ensure your camping party and the environment remain safe.
Campfire Safety Tips When Camping
- Know the rules and fire danger: Before you strike a match, make sure you know the fire regulations of the campground or wilderness area you are in. Pay attention to posted signs and check the ranger’s station for current campfire regulations.
- Use the pit: Most campgrounds provide a fire pit or fire ring in which to build a campfire. If a pit is provided, this is the only place you should build a campfire. If you're in a remote area where campfires are allowed, but a pit is not provided, dig a fire pit and circle the pit with rocks.
- Build a safe campfire: Start the fire with dried leaves or grass that will easily catch fire. Next, add kindling, small twigs, and sticks that are less than an inch in diameter. As the fire builds, add the largest pieces of wood to the fire. They will keep the fire burning for a longer period of time and provide heat. Keep in mind that your fire does not have to be roaring in order to provide heat and to cook.
- Mind the match: Start your campfire with a match and then make sure it is completely extinguished before disposing of it.
- Use local firewood: Utilize local firewood to prevent the spread of insects or diseases. Local is defined as the closest convenient source of firewood that you can find. If possible, pick up firewood from the campground camp store or a nearby location.
- Keep water handy: Don’t start a campfire without having a source of water and a shovel nearby.
- Pay attention to the wind: A strong breeze can spread your fire in an instant. To make sure a sudden gust of wind doesn’t turn your campfire into a wildfire, keep anything flammable, including unused firewood, upwind and at least 15 feet away from the fire.
- Be careful with kids and pets: It’s not just the risk of forest fires that you need to be mindful of while camping. Campfires are the leading cause of children’s camping injuries in the United States. Teach your kids about the danger of fire, and don’t allow children or pets around the campfire unless they are on an adult’s lap.
- Never leave a campfire unattended: A campfire should not be left alone, even for one minute. A small breeze can spread fire quickly, so there should be at least one set of eyes monitoring the fire at all times.
- Put the fire out properly every time: When you are done with your campfire, make sure it is extinguished properly. Dump water on the fire, stir the ashes with a shovel, then dump more water on the fire. The campfire should be cold before you leave it unattended
Tent Fire Safety Tips When Camping
Most tents today are manufactured from flame-resistant fabric, but flame-resistant doesn't mean fireproof. Always place tents at a safe distance and upwind from open campfires. And clear ground debris away from the tent perimeter so sparks can't ignite anything.
Do all your cooking outside. A stove used in a tent could accidentally start a fire. Lighting should come from battery-operated sources. Avoid fuel lanterns or candles inside. If electric lights are used, keep hot bulbs away from anything flammable. When using heaters approved for tents, keep them away from walls, sleeping bags, pillows, and other contents of the tent.
RV Fire Safety Tips When Camping
When traveling with a camper trailer or recreational vehicle, use only electric or battery-operated lights inside. Maintain all appliances in a safe working condition and check them before use.
When the vehicle is traveling down the road, shut down gas to stoves and water heaters by closing the fuel supply at the gas bottle. Don't cook while the vehicle is underway. Always use fuel stoves and lanterns outside campers and RVs. Accumulation of vapors in the fueling process could result in an explosion. Keep a fire extinguisher on board, preferably a multi-purpose one mounted by the exit door.
StreetWise®: A Public Safety Information Services Company
StreetWise is a public safety information services company located in Mooresville, North Carolina. President Philip Kouwe has been active in the fire and emergency services field for 35+ years. StreetWise is an elite group of progressive, like-minded investors, managers, technical developers, and advisors that form the parent company, Hangar 14 Solutions, LLC.
It is our close and ongoing career experience with public safety that led to the development of this project concept. Hangar 14 Solutions has identified firsthand the gap in getting critical response information into the hands of emergency personnel.
Hangar 14 Solutions is developing software applications for public safety that will focus on the burgeoning tablet computer hardware platform. As a company, Hangar 14 Solutions believes that mobile computing technology, particularly inexpensive tablet computers and cellular broadband, have opened up new possibilities for providing emergency incident information and stored pre-incident response data to emergency responders in the field.
If you would like more information on the services offered by StreetWise, check out our website at www.streetwisecadlink.com.