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Be sure you need a campfire.
If a warm blanket or a camping lodge or an available stove inside or out will already provide what you needed a campfire for, think carefully about the risks before proceeding.
Have all the needed tools.
You will need all the following to build a successful and safe campfire and to keep it that way.
1. Matches or a Zippo lighter.
2. Cloth or paper.
3. Small pieces of dry kindling wood.
4. Somewhat larger sticks of dry wood.
5. Small logs of dry wood.
6. Bare, flat ground.
7. A large pail of water and more available water near by.
Preparation and environment.
Be aware of local laws and that campfires are permissible in your area. Find a flat, level area of dry ground up wind of the tents or anything flammable by 10 or more feet at a minimum. Make sure either that there is no wind or that it is extremely low wind with no high winds predicted. Don’t build the fire under trees or outstretching limbs. The limbs could drop debris into the fire extinguishing it or extending it out of control. Control is a major issue with the use of campfires. This control must remain with you.
Completely bare the ground of any leaves or limbs. Roll old newspapers, other paper or old cotton sheeting or similar cloth for the base. Once you have a circle of cloth or paper sticks in the form of a circle, build a
tee-pee of kindling twigs around it.
Start your fire with matches or a Zippo lighter carefully from the outer edges. Let it build and at its climax begin to add kindling and larger pieces gradually. Do not use any lighter fluid directly on the fire nor wood or any other flammable liquids.
For further safety.
1. Don’t engage in excessive drinking when caring for a fire.
2. Put the fire out completely with water before leaving it unattended for other activities or to go to sleep for the night.
3. Consider having a large old pot handy to completely snuff out the fire by suffocation.
4. Don’t put paper or other items atop the fire which could allow the wind to carry its sparks away to start a fire somewhere else.
5. Choose the size and amount of wood according to when you want to put it out. A smaller fire is safer for extinguishing so build a fire that will burn down by the time you plan to be done with it.
6. Build a fire with a plan known to all.
7. Build with shoelaces tied and short sleeves on or sleeves rolled up.
8. Have a large tub of water with a non-flammable blanket drenched inside it. Should anything or anyone catch fire you can use this to put them out immediately by fully covering them.
9. Know how to put yourself out should you catch fire by rolling on wet ground or rolling quickly on the ground.
10. Teach and drill children on all these safety precautions.
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