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Almost any outdoor camping adventure requires a fire for cooking and heat, particularly in winter. In all seasons, however, it is prudent to practice fire safety techniques to reduce risk of danger to campers or an uncontrollable forest fire. A few set regulations should be put it place for when the fire is active, and all campers be required to know what to do in case of a fire becoming out of control.
The first rule to keep in mind is that the bigger the fire, the hotter it burns. It is for this reason that they should be kept as small as possible for the needs of the campers - hotter fires are unsuitable for cooking and run the risk of burning people nearby without ever coming in contact with them. They are also much more difficult to contain in high winds and can get out of control more quickly. Finally, overly large fires take much longer to extinguish even with water, and must be carefully watched even when they appear to be out. For this reason, keep your fire small and do not stoke it too often.
Build your fire a fair distance from trees, tents, and brush. It can be tempting to stay in sheltered areas, especially in bad weather, but the closer the blaze is to other flammable material, the more fuel it will have if it grows out of control. A temporary lean-to can protect a small fire provided it is carefully watched, but you must never set one inside a tent.
Set up a "fire picket" if the fire will be burning all night or if you are consistently away from it. This consists of at least two awake people within eyesight of the flames to ensure they do not spread. A fire picket is particularly important if you have built a large fire that will continue burning while most or all of the other campers are sleeping. Provide your watchpeople with knowledge of where to find a water source, a fire extinguisher if you have brought one, and a filled bucket for containing small accidents, such as a loose spark igniting a bit of nearby tinder. Rotate your fire picket every hour, and two people should always be on watch in case one person dozes off.
Other sources can start a blaze just as easily as your cooking fire, particularly if you are using chemicals for a lantern or stove. Though you can bring a lantern into a tent, always fill it a significant distance from the tents and fire, and ensure no fluid is on your hands or the outside of the lantern when you light it. Keep your lantern away from the sides and ceiling of your tent, hanging it on the hook attached to your tent pole, if you have one. A lantern also takes a significant amount of time to cool down, so ensure it is not too close to clothing or the sides of your tent when you have extinguished it for the evening.
Practicing fire safety while camping will set your mind at ease and ensure that you are not endangering the surrounding wildlife and forest. Be vigilant at all times!
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