Contact:
Strategic Communications Director
Micki Trost
303-472-4087
micki.trost@state.co.us
Centennial, Colo. – July 24, 2017 — Approximately 90 percent of all wildfires are caused by people. One of the most common causes is unattended campfires. Emergency responders need your help in keeping our forests and campgrounds safe for everyone. There are a few key steps to making and maintaining a safe campfire.
Pick a Safe Spot
- Do not build a fire at a site in hazardous or dry conditions.
- Check before building your campfire to make sure the campground, forest or local area allows campfires.
- Pick a spot that is at least fifteen feet away from your tent walls, trees or anything else that could catch on fire.
Maintain Your Campfire
- Keep your fire to a manageable size.
- Provide constant supervision to children and pets near the fire.
- Never leave the campfire unattended…even for a short time.
Extinguish Your Campfire
- Use the “drown, stir and feel” method.
- Allow the wood to burn completely to ash.
- Pour lots of water on the fire and drown all of the embers.
- Pour water on the fire until it stops hissing.
A campfire is a lot of fun, but it also takes a lot of responsibility to ensure it does not get out of control and possibly start a wildfire. When putting out a campfire, make sure it is cold before you leave the campsite. If it’s too hot to touch, it’s too hot to leave! Let the beauty of the great outdoors be enjoyed by families for generations to come.
Want more tips and ideas? Head over to our website at www.READYColorado.com and read the full blog post, or follow us all week on our social media accounts for new posts on the Campfire Safety campaign.
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