Fire Safety

Fire Safety Rules (Webelos)

All Scouts must follow these rules!  However remember only Leaders and Webelos (working on Cast Iron Chef) can build and maintain a fire.

1. Follow the rules of your campsite. Some places do not allow ground fires. Ask if you don’t know the rules.

- Always make certain that there are no current Burn Bands in place, before lighting a fire.

2. First off, Absolutely no fuels will be used in building fires. Besides the obvious dangers of fuels, the Scouts are to learn the proper ways to build a fire.

3. Before building the fire, clear an area 10 feet in diameter. Remove leaves, sticks, and other burnable materials. 

4. Remove any rocks bigger than a fist.

5. Don’t build a fire under a shrub or low hanging branches. Don’t build it on tree roots.

6. Don’t light the fire until you have permission from your Leader.

7. Never-ever leave the fire unattended.

8. Never put anything into the fire ring that sticks out of the fire ring.  Only place properly sized logs into the fire.

9. Don’t make the fire too big. A small fire is perfect for toasting marshmallows and sitting around talking.

10. Stay at least three feet away from the fire unless you have to get closer to cook something.

11. What goes in the fire, stays in the fire. Don’t put something in the fire and then take it back out. The end will be very hot and somebody could get burnt or an unwanted fire may get started.

12. Don’t poke the fire or throw things in the fire. This could cause sparks to fly out. Nobody wants sparks in their face or more.  A Leader will show you the proper way to move wood around, with a fire stick, to keep the fire going.

13. Have a means to extinguish a fire nearby. If some sparks fly off your fire and start another fire, you might have to act quickly. A shovel and a bucket of sand or a bucket of water  is ideal.

14. Make sure the fire is dead out before you leave it. This means that you can put your hand where the fire was and not feel any heat. Use a shovel to disperse the ashes and coals and then sprinkle them with water until they are cool.

If these rules are not followed:

1st offense - You will be asked to stay 5 feet away from the fire until your leader grants you entrance.

2nd offense - You may not be allowed to participate around the fire.  You will be asked to stay at least 10 feet away from the fire.  You will maintain this distance from any fire until your leader grants you entrance.

3rd offense - If a third offense occurs we can not longer trust that you will follow the rules and we can no longer guarantee your safety or the safety of others with you at the camp. You will be asked to leave the scouting event and you may not be allowed to participate in future scouting events.