Outdoor Code - Careful with Fire
| Category: | Outdoor Code |
|---|---|
| Props: | A cup of water and a stick for stirring (optional, to act out putting a fire cold out) |
| Notes: | Second in a four-part series on the Outdoor Code. Good before a campout, at the first campfire of the season, or during a fire safety lesson. For hands-on campfire skills, see the Outdoor section's fire-building and campfire-safety pages. See also outdoor-code-clean-in-my-outdoor-manners, outdoor-code-considerate-in-the-outdoors, and outdoor-code-conservation-minded. |
The second line of the Outdoor Code is, "Be careful with fire."
Every Scout loves a campfire. It's where we sing, tell stories, cook dinner, and stay warm on a cold night. But fire is the most powerful tool we use outdoors, and it doesn't care how good our intentions were.
Here's something worth knowing: most wildfires in the United States are started by people. Not lightning. People. A campfire left smoldering. A spark on dry grass on a windy day. Somebody who thought it was out.
So being careful with fire starts before you strike a match. Check whether fires are even allowed. During a dry season, they might not be. Use an existing fire ring when there is one. Keep the fire small, just big enough for what you need. Clear the area around it. And never, ever leave it alone.
When you're done, put it out cold out. Drown it with water, stir the ashes, and drown it again. (Act it out with the cup and stick, if you have them.) Then hold the back of your hand near the ashes. If you can still feel heat, it isn't out. If it's too hot to touch, it's too hot to leave.
And sometimes, being careful with fire means deciding not to have one at all. A lantern and a good story can make a pretty great campfire too.