Fire safety advice for camping
Whether it's a campfire or the flame from your camping stove, fire is an important part of the camping experience.
But carelessness can be fatal, so follow these guidelines to stay safe on site:
• Pitch at a safe distance from other tents to stop the spread of fire. A 6m gap is recommended.
• Don’t use naked flames, including candles, in or near your tent
• Keep matches and lighters in a locked box well away from kids
• Know where the fire alarms and extinguishers are on site
• Gas cylinders and flammable liquids should be kept outside the tent
• Keep a fire blanket and/or an extinguisher in the tent in case of emergency
• Cook outside and don’t use cooking appliances anywhere near the walls and roof or where they can be bumped into and knocked over
• Keep your cooking area clear of any flammable material
• When barbecueing, keep a bucket of water handy in case of emergencies
• Make sure your barbecue site is on level ground and is not able to tip over
• Never spray lighter fuel on warm coals to ‘revive’ the barbecue
• Campfires should be built in fire pits, not on the ground
• Build your campfire far enough away that there is no danger of sparks landing on a tent and igniting
• Don’t set off Chinese lanterns anywhere near a campsite - as well as being a fire hazard they can be an environmental nightmare
Stop, Drop and Roll
If your clothes catch fire:
STOP still – don’t run – and cover your face with your hands
DROP down to the ground
ROLL your body over and over to put out the flames
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