Spread Like Wildfire

Before the meeting: 

1. Learn about the current fire rating in your area using the National Weather Service Fire Weather map. 
2. Identify an area free of obstacles to conduct the activity.  

During the meeting: 

1. Gather the Cub Scouts and adult partners. Share with them that fire can be very harmful and an accident with matches or a lighter can get out of control very quickly and that is why Cub Scouts should only have an adult use matches or lighters or start fires. 
2. Inform the den that to demonstrate how fast a fire can get out of control they will become a fire. 
3. Have Cub Scouts and adult partners form a circle shoulder to shoulder facing outward. 
4. Explain to them that now they are a small fire, but that fire can double in size every 30 seconds! 
5. Have everyone take one step forward while you count to 30.  Have everyone look at how big the circle has grown and that is the path the fire has taken burning everything in that path. 
6. Now have everyone take two steps forward while you count to 30.  Have everyone look at how big the circle is now after only one minute. 
7. Now have everyone take four steps forward while you count to 30.  This is how much a fire can spread in just 90 seconds! 
8. Now have everyone take eight steps forward while you count to 30.  This is how much a fire can spread in just 2 minutes.  How big is the circle?  Is it bigger than their bedroom?  Their house?  Make the connection that this is why it is important to never play with matches or lighters because in just a short amount of time a fire can grow out of control and cause a lot of harm and damage before the fire department can arrive.  
9. If time permits you may want to know what the fire response rate is for your location and have the den continue to double their steps for every 30 seconds to see how far the fire could spread before the fire department arrives.