The Singing Scoutmaster: Campfire Safety: How Not to Roast Your Marshmallows (or Your Tent!)

Campfires are for s'mores—not emergencies. Whether you're a new Scout or a seasoned fire-tender with a soot-stained spork, it's good to review the essential rules of campfire safety—with a little humor to help it stick.

1. Keep It Small

This isn't a Viking funeral. Keep fires small and controlled—no taller than your knee. Flames should never reach for the trees or make your Scoutmaster sweat.

2. Fire Rings Are Friends

Use established fire rings or create one with rocks—safely spaced from tents, trees, or your buddy's nylon hiking socks. No ring? No fire. Build a mock campfire or break out a lantern circle.

3. Distance Matters

• Tents should be at least 15 feet away from any fire.
• Backpacks, tarps, and dry wood piles belong way over there.
• Camp chairs? Outside the "ember splash zone." If sparks land on your hoodie, you're too close.

4. Marshmallow Stick Discipline

Wave it like a sword, and you're out. No swinging, fencing, or sneak attacks. Always watch your stick tip, especially when it's glowing like the Eye of Sauron.

5. Don't Feed the Fire Weird Stuff

We cover this elsewhere, but it's worth repeating: Only burn wood. No trash, food wrappers, or leftover socks. Fires are for flames, not fumes.

6. Water (or Dirt) Ready

Keep a bucket of water, sand, or a shovel nearby. A good Scout is always ready to extinguish a runaway s'more spark—or the whole fire if needed.

7. Leave It Cold Out

When the fun's done, drown the fire until it's cold out, not just looks out. Stir, soak, repeat. If you wouldn't sit on it in shorts, it's not out.

Campfires are a highlight of the Scout experience. They bring us together, light the night, and fill the air with the smell of smoke and singed sugar. Keep them safe, and they'll keep making memories—not headlines.