Think you’re being careful about preventing forest fires? You may be at more risk of setting an uncontrolled fire than you realize.  Fire is unpredictable, and a small, controlled campfire can become a forest fire in a very short amount of time. Once it’s lit, it’s very difficult for a single person to extinguish a forest fire—and it’s only possible while the fire is still very small. The best way to protect your area from forest fires is to prevent them from starting in the first place. Here’s a brief overview of what causes forest fires—and what you can do to prevent them.

Lighting a fire at the wrong time of year.  July and August are typically hot and dry months in many parts of the world. It’s particularly important to be careful when lighting fires during these times of the year—but any hot, dry location carries extra risks.  Dry grass and leaves are extremely combustible, and a single stray spark can cause a conflagration.  Lighting fires on windy days can also be risky; wind can fan a fire out of control and blow sparks from a fire onto combustible vegetation a considerable distance away. In some public parks, lighting fires may be prohibited entirely at certain times of year. 

Lighting a fire in your back garden.  Camp fires aren’t the only fires that are at risk of lighting up a forest. You can just as easily start a forest fire during a cookout in your back garden.  Always keep grills and fire pits away from overhanging branches and vegetation; sparks can fly a considerable distance and in dry weather can light vegetation very quickly. Avoid lighting fires in your garden during particularly windy or hot and dry periods of the year.

Being careless with cigarettes.  If you look into what causes forest fires, you’ll find that improper disposal of cigarette butts is a key cause. To dispose of your cigarette properly, rub the coal in a cleared, non-flammable area of the ground—on dirt, stone or cement with no vegetation. Then tear the filter from one end to the other several times. Avoid smoking while hiking, operating an ATV or doing anything else outdoors, and never throw a lit cigarette from your car window while driving.

Not extinguishing your fire completely.  If you don’t extinguish your campfire completely, it could smoulder and rage out of control later on.  To completely extinguish a fire, first soak the coals—and be sure to stir the coals as you soak them to make sure you give all your hot coals a good dousing. Leave the fire until you’re sure there’s no heat coming from it—rake the coals again when the fire is cold to make sure there are no smouldering coals buried in the pile. Then cover the entire thing over with dirt.