Sadly, most forest fires are caused by humans. These preventable fires threaten lives, property and our natural resources.
Tips To Help Prevent Forest Fires
1. Check weather and drought conditions
Avoid any activities that involve fire or sparks when it’s hot, dry and windy. Remember, conditions and local restrictions should guide your decision for any fire-related activity such as building a campfire, operating equipment, off-roading on dry grass, or burning debris.
2. Build your campfire in an open location
To build a safe campfire, make sure you:
Select a flat, open location away from flammable materials such as logs, brush or decaying leaves and needles.
Scrape away grass, leaves and needles down to the soil.
Cut wood in short lengths, pile it within the cleared area and then light the fire.
Stay with your fire.
Extinguish it completely before leaving.
3. Soak your campfire until it's cold
Make sure your campfire is completely out by following the steps below:
Soak the fire with at least one bucket of water.
Stir it.
Add another bucket of water.
Stir it again.
Your campfire should be cold to the touch before you leave.
4. Keep vehicles off dry grass
If you are off-roading, remember that your exhaust can reach temperatures of 500+ degrees! So, avoid driving or parking over dry grass.
5. Regularly maintain your equipment and vehicle
Vehicles and equipment can shoot sparks from their exhaust, particularly vehicles that haven’t received regular maintenance. Whether it’s a car, truck, or off-road vehicle, make sure your vehicle is current on all mechanical checkups and suited for off-road adventures.
6. Practise vehicle safety
Carry a shovel and a fire extinguisher in your vehicle to put out fires. Off-highway vehicles must have a spark arrester. You should also carry a bucket, but you could also use a helmet or anything else to carry water.
7. Check your tires, bearings and axles on your trailer
If you’re towing a trailer, remember to do a maintenance check to ensure the tires are not worn, the bearings and axles are greased, and safety chains are properly in place and not dragging on the ground.
8. Keep sparks away from dry vegetation
Make sure you never operate equipment that produces sparks near dry vegetation. Always clear the area around your workspace. This area should be even larger if it is windy and dry.
9. Check conditions and regulations before you use fireworks
Fireworks start thousands of fires and send over hundreds of people to the ER each year. Check your local federal, provincial and city regulations before using fireworks. Provinces, counties and cities may have different laws and regulations, so a bit of research could save you the cost of an improper fireworks use penalty, or worse – the cost of fighting a wildfire.
10. Cautiously burn debris and never when it's windy or restricted
Sometimes, people burn trash, leaves, agricultural waste, or other materials.
If you plan to burn debris on your private property, make sure you have water nearby (such as a garden hose) and never burn anything if it’s windy. Once your burn is completed, be sure to “mop up” the ashes with water and stirring.
Wildfires often start from dormant fire debris piles that were not extinguished, days or even weeks after they were burned. There may be burning restrictions in your area, so contact your local fire authority for more information and debris burning tips.
Not All Fire Is Bad
Forest fires can be devastating, but fire also plays a natural and necessary role in many landscapes. Fire is vital for some wildlife habitat. The diversity of plants and animals you enjoy on public lands can depend on fire.
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