Campfire Tips
This weekend looks gorgeous! Since we are staying home, you may decide that a campfire is a perfect way to enjoy the evening.
Your friendly County of Brant Firefighters have put together a few tips to keep you safe:
The campfire site:
- Find a spot that is sheltered from the wind.
- Build your fire on a non-combustible surface. Preferably in a metal ring or surrounded by stones or blocks.
- Build your fire at least 15 metres away from any combustible materials, fences, property lines or buildings.
- Make sure the space above the fire is at least three metres from overhanging branches and vegetation.
Prepare the site:
- Clear a space about two metres wide for the fire.
- Scrape the area right down to the mineral soil.
- Ensure you have a pail of water or garden hose, and a shovel to control the fire.
Build your campfire:
- Keep your fire small to a maximum of one metre high and one metre wide.
- Remember that small fires are safer, easier to control and easier to put out.
- A small fire will also keep cooking tools from blackening and let you get close enough to cook.
Stay nearby:
- Never leave any fire unattended.
- Remember that you are responsible for tending your campfire, ensuring it is kept under control, and for putting it out.
Put the fire out:
- Pour lots of water on the campfire.
- Stir the ashes with a stick.
- Pour more water over top of the campfire.
- Stir the ashes with a stick again.
- Repeat until:
- the ashes are cold to the touch
- the ashes don’t hiss
- the ashes look soaked
- no more smoke comes from the ashes
Safety tips for kids:
- Always ensure children are with an adult when they are around a fire.
- Always make sure small children are at least 1m away from the fire.
- Never allow children to play with matches or fireworks.
- Teach your children to tell an adult immediately if they see a fire burning out of control.
And just in case you need a campfire recipe, this one is a firefighter favorite!
1 sleeve graham crackers, broken into squares
1 (12-oz.) bag marshmallows
1 bar chocolate, cut into squares
In a large cast-iron skillet, layer graham crackers, marshmallows, and chocolate.
Place skillet over a campfire cooking grate and cook until marshmallows and chocolate are melty.
Also, please be considerate to your neighbours and do not have a campfire if the wind speed exceeds 15 kms/hr. For more information about campfires and the Fire Bylaw, visit www.brant.ca/OpenAirBurning.
Please remember, we all need to do our part to keep the community healthy and prevent the spread of COVID-19. Please do not gather in groups of more than five people. Stay healthy! Stay safe! We’ve got this Brant!
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