Camping Trip Fire Safety

Camping Trip Fire Safety

Camping fire safety
Keep calm, Summer is on the way! Already organised your family holiday? If you love to spend more time in the sunshine, camping trips are an all time summer favourite for many families. They are the perfect opportunity to embrace the outdoors and enjoy the hot weather! When it comes to camping, there is endless fun and adventure to explore. Must-have items to dig out for the family getaway usually include some form of Tent, a BBQ and Outdoor games. However BBQs, camping and caravanning all pose fire hazards. So it is important to be aware of the fire safety factors that come with Camping, to make sure your trip goes swimmingly. Is it your first time going Camping this year? Find out how you can stay safe and enjoy camping with your family and friends with our top tips for Camping Trip Fire Safety.

Camping and Caravanning

When it comes to camping, it is important to know the fire fighting arrangements on the campsite and where the nearest telephone is for emergencies. By taking these precautions while camping, it will help reduce the risk of fire. Like most campsites, there is a strict restriction in place for tents, caravans and motorhomes to be pitched at least 6m apart to prevent the spread of fire. In addition, if you’re staying in a tent, there are many things to remember in order to stay safe while camping. If you didn’t already know, you shouldn’t smoke in tents or use candles, but instead use a torch for adequate lighting. It is important to keep cooking appliances away from the tent walls, neither cook inside a small tent as it can start a fire very easily.

Campfires

A magical way to enjoy camping is by building a campfire. Not only are they great for keeping you cosy in the evening, they are also excellent for roasting marshmallows! When lighting a campfire, it is advised to have a fire bucket full of water outside your shelter. By keeping water nearby, you can properly extinguish campfires before sleeping. Fires should be at least fifteen feet away from the tent walls, shrubs, low-hanging branches, small children and other flammable objects, otherwise it creates a fire hazard. If you’re unsure how to safety proof your pit, it is vital to clear all debris and create a circle surrounding the pit with rocks for support. Flammable items must be kept away from the fire, these include Aerosol cans, Pressurized containers, Glass or Aluminum cans. This makes sure your campfire remains a manageable size.    

How do I properly extinguish a Campfire?

A campfire is favourite part of camping and creates that much-needed warmth. To prevent a fire hazard, you need to make sure you put out your campfire correctly. Firstly, you need to allow the wood to burn completely to ash. The safest way to put out a campfire is by pouring lots of water over it. If you don’t have access to any water, you can stir dirt or sand into the embers with a shovel to bury the fire instead.

Barbeque Safety

One of the first things that come to mind when Summer arrives is BBQs. They are a great way to enjoy the hot weather and cater for the whole family. Here are the safety precautions to remember when having a BBQ while camping… Before having a BBQ, check that your BBQ is in good working order. If you’re looking for somewhere safe to put the BBQ, it must be sitting on a level ground without the risk of tipping over. All BBQs have to be kept away from tents and sleeping areas, as it they create Carbon Monoxide, a silent and invisible chemical. This can quickly kill if a BBQ is used inside tents, or vehicles for shelter from the cold. To prevent a fire hazard, you should never overload your BBQ with lighting fluid or charcoal. Once it is set up, you cannot leave it unattended.    

Carbon Monoxide Awareness

With the BBQ season approaching us, it is important to know the risk of Carbon Monoxide poisoning. Carbon Monoxide is a poisonous gas which is known as the silent killer because you cannot see it, hear it, smell it or taste it. New research has found that 4 in 5 people (80%) are unaware they are at danger of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning while having a BBQ. As a safety precaution, it is vital that lit BBQs are not brought into an enclosed space. This is because BBQs will continue to give off CO until they are completely cooled.

Cooke & Bern’s Passive Fire Protection Services

Cooke & Bern are based in Colchester, offering specialist Passive Fire Protection services for all types of construction. Our architects have a wealth of experience in dealing with projects across various sectors, including Commercial buildings and Tower Blocks. If you’re interested in our Passive Fire Protection services, please don’t hesitate to contact us. You can call us 01206 860001 or email us [email protected] for more information. Our experts are more than happy to help you.