When I go camping, one of the things I always look forward to is building a big campfire.
Not only does it allow me to cook on it, but it also provides warmth and light for our campsite.
But there is always the issue of safety around a campfire.
What do you need to know about building one safely? Before you leave to go on your camping trip, take a few moments and do some research on the area you'll be camping in.
There are often restrictions on building fires in some parks, and if the area is going through a dry spell, then the restrictions may be heavier than normal.
You definitely want to be sure that you're allowed to build a fire before you start doing so.
Once you know you can build a fire and are at your campsite, then the first thing to consider is making a fire ring.
There are several ways to go about this.
The simplest way is to just clear a small circle (about 3 feet in diameter) of all brush and leaves.
Strip the circle down to the bare ground and then build your fire there.
If you want to make it a bit safer, gather enough large rocks from the surrounding area to completely enclose your circle.
Having the rocks there will give an added bit of protection and help keep the fire from spreading accidentally.
In some parks there will already be fire rings established, whether other campers made them from rocks or the park installed metal fire rings.
In this case, make sure to use the existing fire ring.
Doing this will reduce the impact on the area and save you from having to do the work yourself.
Once you've got the fire ring set up, you can go ahead and build your fire.
If you have children camping with you, make sure that they know not to roughhouse near the fire, and keep the fire small enough so that it doesn't become a hazard to those nearby.
One more thing to consider is having a bucket of water or sand near the fire for emergencies.
This may or may not be practical depending on where you're camping, but it's a good thing to keep in mind if you can do it.
If an accident happens and the fire spreads suddenly, having the bucket nearby and ready can spell the difference between accident and disaster.
Lastly, when you leave your campsite, make sure to put the fire out completely.
Douse it thoroughly with water, and then comb through it with a stick to uncover any coals that may have been hiding.
When you're done, you should be able to place your hand on any part of the extinguished fire without being burned.
That's when you know it's completely out.