How to Camp Responsibly to Avoid Wildfires
Camping is becoming a popular outdoor activity among people of all ages. It helps them not only to come into close contact with Nature but also enables them to acquire sound health through undertaking rigorous journeys across the rocky routes and forest-covered terrains.
At the same time, it also involves encountering a wide range of adverse situations like severe weather disturbances, animal attacks, and wildfire disasters that can put the life of campers at great risk.
Although people are careful enough to deal with the problems of bad weather and animal attacks they continue to ignore the danger of wildfire.
So when you are preparing for camping, never ignores the factor of wildfire for your own safety and also that of your team members.
Causes of wildfire
Wildfires which are most commonly known as forest fires can be caused either due to the natural friction of the branches of several trees in a forest or because of careless burning of waste materials or debris which ultimately engulfs the whole forest and its creatures into the flames of fire due to heavy blowing wind.
A recent study suggests that ninety percent of the incidents of wildfire are due to careless human activities that involve setting up campfires and burning waste materials.
Other factors that contributed to this disaster include the emission of fire sparks from grinding and welding equipment, discarded smoking stuff, arson, and exhaust systems of the vehicles.
Measures that are needed to be followed for avoiding wildfires during a camping expedition
As most cases of wildfire are because of reckless human activities, you need to put some restraints while lighting up the campfire.
It cannot be denied that a campfire constitutes an integral part of the outdoor camping experience without which the joy of setting up camp in a secluded location remains incomplete.
Besides, it offers the only alternative to boiling water and warming food items. But you need to remember that the kindling of a campfire also ushers with a lot of responsibilities as well for making your camping trip quite safe and interesting.
So next time, when you lit the campfire just follow these guidelines mentioned below:
Never left your campfire unattended
After setting up the campfire, you must not leave it totally unattended for that can lead to quick spreading of the fire due to heavy blowing of the wind or mild breeze which will ultimately engulf your tents and that of your team members.
Always keep a close watch on it or in case you have to go somewhere ask your team member to supervise the rising flames of the campfires to prevent any sort of awkward incidents during the middle of your journey.
Selection of spots without overhanging branches of trees
You must look for such a camping spot where you can not only safely set up the tents but can also light up the campfires in the absence of overhanging or loosely suspended branches of trees.
Hanging tree branches do have the chance to instantly catch up to the rising fire flames of the campfire which will ultimately result in catastrophic incidents of wildfire across the region.
In case you do not have many options for spot selection then just try to cut the loosely hanging branches for that will somehow minimize the scope of wildfire and other unpleasant incidents.
So while you set out for camping next time do not forget to bring axes and other tree-cutting equipment which always come for relief in such scenarios.
Using these equipment you can clear off trees surrounding your camping spot for safe lighting of the campfire.
Avoid burning pressurized containers and aerosol cans
Once you settle down to your camp do not try to use aerosol cans and other pressurized containers for setting up the campfire.
This will cause a tremendous explosion that can set the entire forest on the fire and can cause you and your team members severe burning injury.
Always gather natural wood pieces and dry leaves to light up the flames of the camping fire. People often commit such mistakes which not only put their lives in great danger but also severely damage the environment in the form of unrestrained wildfires.
Pouring enough water on the campfire place
Once you wrap up your tents and other belongings for moving in another direction do not forget to pour enough drops of water into the spot of a campfire.
Failing to completely extinguish the suppressed fire of the ashes can lead to the destruction of the greenish environment in the form of a forest fire.
So you must continue dropping enough water into the ash pits of the campfire site till the stopping of the hissing sound.
In case of water shortage, you can use dirt or sand to cool the ashes completely for blocking the scope of catching fire in the forest.
Use of stove as an ideal alternative to campfire
Prevention is always better than cure and this universal principle applies in the case of campfire also. Instead of setting up a campfire which always comes with a great risk of fire catching, you can use small stoves that are specially designed for outdoor camping journeys.
The use of such stoves will help you to boil water and to cook food without any difficulty. After using it for different cooking and boiling purposes, you can turn off the knobs of such stoves easily and can get down to sleep peacefully.
If you are traveling alone then it is better to go for the small stove than set up a campfire. Besides, a campfire needs a lot of supervision which your partner may not like while spending a romantic vacation with you.
Advance weather updates
As you guys are aware the fact that Nature is also responsible for the catastrophic phenomenon of a forest fire so it is better to have advanced weather updates while selecting any special region for your camping activities.
You can be in touch with the Meteorological Department to gather information about the possibility of heavy storms, outbreaks of tornadoes, or other adverse weather conditions to your designated camping spot for adequate safeguard against the wildfire.
Apart from bad weather, seasons and a higher level of temperature also play a great role in the formation of a forest fire.
Based on these inputs you can finally decide whether to include such places in your outdoor camping lists or not.
Set up the campfire at a faraway distance from the tent
People often mistakenly choose the nearby camping area to light up a campfire which can lead to adverse impacts like burning the tents or catching the jungles into the fire.
Always maintain a sufficient distance from your tent area while setting up the campfire for that will prevent the instant spread of fire into your tents and thus keep your family and friends safe.
At the same time, it is better to use tents made of parachute nylon fabric for that will minimize the chance of catching fire instantly.
Use of existing fire rings
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For controlling the level of campfire to a permissible limit there is no better alternative to a fire ring.
Using it will lead to a reduction in height of the fire from the ground level to reduce the danger of fire catching.
You must install fire rings of durable metals like iron which can withstand the high temperature of the fire and that same moment lowers its depth to cause potential damage.
Use such a similar ring for your next camping as well to prevent damage to the environment.
These are the measure that can help you to a great way to avoid wildfire during your camping journey.
However, you are also required to make sure that you are following the legal norms that are often forwarded by the forest department to the prospective campers for the purpose of avoiding forest fire.
You must control your activities at the time of camping in the secluded place which involves burning waste products, formation of a campfire, and so on.
In case you fall in the middle of wildfire then do not get panic and try to protect yourself as much possible you can.
You have the chance to opt for an open space region that contains no traces of trees or bushes which will be beneficial to avoid the harmful burning impact as fire will be unable to spread in the absence of tree branches.
It is your responsibility to clear nearby debris to prevent yourself from the clutches of a forest fire. If it is too late then it is better to cover your entire body with nonsynthetic clothes to escape from the impact of burning.
It is better to establish your camp in nearby village areas to get timely help in the form of advance warning during the event of a sudden wildfire.
Finally, always desert your camping spot after fully extinguishing the campfire otherwise the entire forest with you can be engulfed in the lethal flames.
