Boy Scouts of America

Campfire Safety

SUMMARY

Who doesn’t love a glowing campfire at the end of the day? However, to make sure it won’t be your tent that burns, let’s look at some good fire safety practices.

GENERAL INFORMATION

Handbooks for each program have useful tips for campfires. Here are a few highlights:

Environmental conditions

  • Leaders should understand the local campfire regulations or requirements.
  • Beware of current fire conditions, especially if it has been dry and windy. Check for any active burn ban.
  • Consider wind direction and projected size of fire before starting.

Maintain your campsite

  • Use an established campfire ring, if available, and keep your campfire size appropriate.
  • Be sure your fire is a minimum of 15 feet from tents, shrubs, trees or other flammable objects. Always check for low-hanging branches above the fire.
  • Store matches, lighters, and items used as fire starters in a secure waterproof box or bag outside of your tent. In bear country store away from your campsite.

Additives and Fire Extinguishing

  • Additives to the fire are prohibited. This includes chemicals, accelerants, color-changers, and other flame-enhancing products like Magical Flames™.
  • Avoid cooking over a fire where chemicals or additives have been previously used.
  • Always extinguish campfires properly. Ensure campfires are completely cold-out. Do a test on cooled ash for any sign of heat before you consider the fire extinguished.

Emergency Response

  • Never leave a campfire unattended. Prepare a unit fireguard, and practice it.
  • Always have a shovel/rake and water or other extinguishing materials handy.
  • Be prepared to respond to burns or someone on fire with “Stop, drop, and roll.”

RESOURCES

Bray Barnes

Director, Global Security Innovative
Strategies

Bray Barnes is a recipient of the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award, Silver
Beaver, Silver Antelope, Silver Buffalo, and Learning for Life Distinguished
Service Award. He received the Messengers of Peace Hero award from
the royal family of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and he’s a life member of
the 101st Airborne Association and Vietnam Veterans Association. Barnes
serves as a senior fellow for the Global Federation of Competitiveness
Councils, a nonpartisan network of corporate CEOs, university presidents, and
national laboratory directors. He has also served as a senior executive for the
U.S. Department of Homeland Security, leading the first-responder program
and has two U.S. presidential appointments

David Alexander

Managing Member Calje

David Alexander is a Baden-Powell Fellow, Summit Bechtel Reserve philanthropist, and recipient of the Silver Buffalo and Distinguished Eagle Scout Award. He is the founder of Caljet, one of the largest independent motor fuels terminals in the U.S. He has served the Arizona Petroleum Marketers Association, Teen Lifeline, and American Heart Association. A triathlete who has completed hundreds of races, Alexander has also mentored the women’s triathlon team at Arizona State University.

Glenn Adams

President, CEO & Managing Director
Stonetex Oil Corp.

Glenn Adams is a recipient of the Silver Beaver, Silver Antelope, Silver Buffalo, and Distinguished Eagle Scout Award. He is the former president of the National Eagle Scout Association and established the Glenn A. and Melinda W. Adams National Eagle Scout Service Project of the Year Award. He has more than 40 years of experience in the oil, gas, and energy fields, including serving as a president, owner, and CEO. Adams has also received multiple service awards from the Texas Alliance of Energy Producers.