Photo by Jay Dash Photography

Roast Marshmallows & Prevent Wildfires: Brush Up On Your Fire Safety Skills with Geartrade!

It’s campfire season out there folks! Which means s’mores, roasted weenies, & preventing wildfires! We all love to have fun on camping trips with friends, but it’s important to brush up on your fire prevention skills before you head out. In the Western United States, wildfires are becoming increasingly common (yikes!) Lightning is known to have started many a fire, but others are the result of human error. The climate is becoming drier & hotter, meaning that the fire seasons are getting longer. We know everyone loves a good campfire so understanding fire danger, regulations, & etiquette should be at the top of your to-do list! What does all of this mean for those lovely campfire vibes we are all so fond of? Well, it means you might have to do without. I know it doesn’t feel the same, but camping stoves are almost always in the clear for use! You could craft a new skillet s’more recipe or fried hot dogs or something right? If you’re at a designated campground, it is quite common that even in areas where there is high fire danger, campfires within designated fire rings and pits are still allowed. But this will be different depending where you are at. If you’re still able to have a fire, there are a few skills you should hone in on to be sure you can manage it.

Have a Safe Campfire

Photo by Brian Wangenheim on Unsplash

Check Local Regulations & Fire Danger

While a campground or dispersed campsite may have an established fire pit or ring, it’s important to determine if campfires are allowed in your area before you start crafting one! You can check the website of the recreation area you’re heading to as well as the National Fire Danger Rating System. Have you seen the signs on the road with Smokey the Bear pointing to different colors? That’s the National Fire Danger Rating System in action!

Green = Low Danger

Blue = Moderate Danger

Yellow = High Danger

Orange = Very High

Red = Extreme

Each rating is determined by a combination of things like the condition of the fuel & the weather. (In this case, fuel is anything that could burn if a fire breaks out.)

Know What Makes Conditions Hazardous

After you check the local regulations, adhere to them! Even if you checked & confirmed that your area is in the clear,make some observations about the specific location that you’re in. Is the existing pit located next to a dead & dry bush? A single ember can set the whole bush into flames! Has the wind picked up since you got out of service? High winds can come on fast & carry embers into nearby dry trees & other fuel! These factors can turn a good time into a danger zone! Be aware of your surroundings & make a real-time call on the hazards present.

Keep an Eye on your Fire

Once you’ve got your campfire going, make sure to keep an eye on it! If you forgot the marshmallows, be sure to leave a member of your party behind to watch it while you head to the campground shop. Always keep water nearby in case your fire starts to get out of hand & needs to be extinguished.

Know What You're Burning

Don’t add glass, aluminum, or other forms of trash to your fire. These items could explode & send the fire off into your campsite & beyond. “Dead-Out” sign in Millcreek Canyon, UT.

Dead Out

When the s’mores are gone & the kids (& you) have come down from the sugar rush, it’s time to hit the hay. Be sure your campfire is dead out before you leave it unattended. To do this, first let your fire burn down to ashes. Then pour water on all of the hot coals. Just because they aren’t red doesn’t mean they aren’t hot! Once the coals stop hissing from pouring water on them, they should be fairly cool & can be touched. At this point the fire is dead out. If you don’t have enough water, mix the embers with dirt or sand. Be sure to stir the embers until they are cool. Do not leave the fire if it is still too hot to touch. Keep mixing and burying the coals until you can touch them. We all want adventure lovers to have that campfire & create memories, but we don’t want to see our favorite places, & the favorite places of other’s burn to a crisp. Stay safe, have fun & remember that If it is too hot to touch, it is too hot to leave! Kalie Lovell: self proclaimed hiker-trash, fiction and non-fiction writer, video content creator, cheese, ramen, and dog lover. As a regular UnNew-repper, she is constantly sharing gear care, maintenance, and repair tips in order to keep her gear in tip top shape for all of her hiking and backpacking adventures. Kalie dreams of an even more accessible, inclusive, and welcoming outdoor industry and wants to share her love of the outdoors with all who are willing to tag along! Follow us on Instagram + Facebook: Tag us @geartrade with the hashtag #unnewoutdoor #wearitout on your post or story for a chance to be featured on our page.

Have Fall gear to sell? Get cracking.

It is now easier than ever to sell your gear on Geartrade. With our new Consignment Selling option you can finally reclaim your gear closet. Send it in. We take care of the rest. Geartrade is Climate Neutral Certified