Always follow safe campfire practices to prevent your campfire from starting a forest fire. Remember, you could be held responsible for the cost of putting out the forest fire, and for any property damage.
Choose your site carefully
Select a site with easy access to water, sheltered from prevailing winds. Look for a patch of sand or gravel (mineral soil). An area of bedrock is even better.
Your fire should be at least three metres away from any log, stump or overhanging tree, and 15 metres away from any buildings or forest debris that might catch fire. If you make a circle of rocks around your fire and make sure the rocks do not hide hot coals after you leave.
Preparing the site
Start by cleaning a one metre space around your campfire site. Remove all pine needles, grasses, leaves and twigs. Scrape away the surface area, right down to mineral soil.
Keep your fire small. You can always add more fuel as you need it. A smaller fire will keep your cooking tools from blackening and let you get close enough to cook. Remember that the forest is no place for a bonfire, and a small fire is easier to control and put out.
Stay nearby
Never leave your campfire unattended. Every person who starts a fire outdoors must:
- take all reasonable steps to keep the fire under control;
- ensure that responsible person is tending the fire at all times;
- drown the fire before leaving the site of the fire for any period of time whatsoever.
How to put your fire out
Begin by thoroughly drowning your fire with water as soon as possible after use. The ground will cool faster and the hazard to surrounding trees or shrubs will be greatly reduced.
Stir the ashes with a stick to uncover hot coals. This will cool the fire faster and allow water to soak in better. Move the rocks to uncover embers.
Drown it again! Make doubly sure the fire is dead out before you leave the site or retire for the evening.