Campfire Safety

—Allison Bedosky, Education Director

Summer is just around the corner and, believe it or not, the Rye Nature Center has already had our first family campout! Being outside and sitting around a campfire with good friends is always fun and something to look forward to during the summer months. And who doesn't love to sit around a fire pit roasting marshmallows with their families? As much as we all love campfires, the best camper is a responsible one.

Over the past few weeks, the news coverage of the wildfires in Fort McMurray, Alberta, Canada has been overwhelming, but the distance can make it seem like a faraway problem. In fact, wildfires happen all over the United States every year and in 2015 were responsible for burning over nine million acres. What causes these massive wildfires? Chances are it wasn't your campfire, but humans are, in fact, the leading cause of wildfires. Between burning leaves and other debris, irresponsible disposal of smoking products, fireworks, and campfires, humans are responsible for almost 90% of fires, while drought combined with lightning strikes are responsible for only about 10%.

So how can you help? Make sure you follow all local laws and regulations regarding open burnings. New York State does not allow the burning of trash in any circumstance, but does allow campfires that are less than three feet in height and four feet in width. Never leave your campfire unattended and always make sure it is completely extinguished before walking away. When hosting our campouts, we make sure to bring out a five gallon bucket of water prior to starting the fire--this way you never have to leave the campfire unattended. Feel free to contact the Rye Nature Center staff for tips on building and controlling safe campfires. Safe and happy camping!