Camp Curiosity understands the importance of vigilance to fire safety hazards. All attendees and children are aware of the fire safety procedures set out in this policy.

Campfires are an important part of Camp Curiosity and are used in many sessions.

Camp Curiosity aims to ensure that all children and adults participating in our sessions with fires will do so safely and with as little risk to their health as possible.

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Location

• The campfire shall be off the ground

• Only previously agreed areas will be used for the campfire.

• The campfire area will be enclosed by logs, rope or large stones to prevent the spread of fire.

 

Positioning of Children and Adults

• Fire areas are surrounded by logs, rope or tarps as appropriate at least 1.5 metres from the fire pit which demarcates the campfire boundary.

• Once lit an adult will remain by the fire at all times.

• When the campfire is in use, children are not permitted to access the area without permission.

• Seating on tarps will be organised around the outside of the fire boundary. Once seated around the campfire, the children must remain seated until directed by an adult to move.

• Long sleeves and trousers should always be worn.

• Children are not permitted to throw anything onto the fire. With one to one adult help children may carefully place fuel for the fire on the edge of the fire. 

• Advice on the appropriate way for dealing with smoke will be given to the children: they are advised to turn their head to one side, placing their hand across the face, to close their eyes and count to 30 (or ask an adult/peer to count for them)

• If there is a clear wind direction, seating in the line of smoke is to be avoided, especially for those attendees with asthma.

• If wind direction is variable, the leader should rearrange the seating if at all possible.

 

Types of Fire

• Criss-cross fires are used to provide a large amount of heat and light and are fast burning.

• Long Log fires are good for cooking as they are slow burning and require little fuel.

 

Cooking

• When food is to be cooked at Camp Curiosity, the leaders are responsible for ensuring that the food has been transported, cooked and stored in a 'safe to eat' manner.

 

Safety and Responsibility

• Only adults are permitted to light the main campfire. However attendees can help if the leader gives permission.

• Fires are lit using cotton wool, Vaseline and a flint and steel.

• No flammable liquids are to be used to light or accelerate fires.

• No plastics are to be burnt.

• If sessions involve children adding fuel to the fire, this must be done with one to one adult supervision.

• Sticks/wood must be placed, not thrown, from the side of the fire. The hand should never go over the fire.

 

Extinguishing

• All fires must be extinguished at the end of a session.

• Water should always be to hand during campfire sessions.

• Whenever possible, all fuels should be burnt off to ash.

• Camp Curiosity leaders should ensure that any large remains of wood, especially when using a long log fire, are separated from one another.

• At the end of the session, the fire must be doused down with water and stirred until all smoke and steam has ceased.

• Large build ups of potash, from several fires, need to be dispersed. This must only be done when it has totally cooled. It will be finely scattered throughout the woodland to enable natural decomposition.

• The use of a fire blanket, burns first aid kit, fire gloves and water is available should they be necessary.