Keeping Your Campsite Safe

Camping is great fun and a favourite summer pastime for many families. Reduce the risks and keep it safe by remembering some basic guidelines. Make sure there isn’t a campfire ban in your area.

Around The Campsite

Arrive at your campsite with enough daylight left to check over the entire campsite and to set up camp. Be sure to check the site thoroughly for glass, sharp objects and branches that could fall or that hang low. Look for a level site with enough room to spread out all your camping gear. Check for potential hazards at the campsite such as poison ivy, bees, ants and other natural hazards. Dispose of all trash properly in the proper recycling bins if available. Keep your campsite tidy and clean on a daily basis to avoid accidents.

Campfire Safety

• Start fires with paper and/or kindling only, never with flammable liquids.
• Build outdoor fires only in safe places, within approved barbecue containers, on sand or other mineral soil, or within an approved campfire area that is at least six feet from any flammable material.
• Be sure you have an area for a fire that cannot spread laterally or vertically.
• Never leave the fire unattended.
• After putting out an outdoor fire, stay until ashes are cool to the touch.
• Keep simple fire fighting equipment, such as brooms, shovels, rakes, and pails of water or sand within easy reach.
• Make sure that children do not play with the fire.
• Do not wear loose clothing that can easily catch fire.
• Instruct children about rules for being around an open fire.
• No "horse playing".
• No reaching within an open fire to rearrange pieces of wood.
• No jumping over the fire.
• Around a campfire, children should always be supervised by an adult or responsible older child.