A reminder that all outdoor fires should be closely attended and fully extinguished when leaving the site.
Provincial Police in Red Lake were on marine patrol last Friday when officers noticed an unattended camp fire on McCuaig Island, near McKenzie Island.
The fire had spread to the nearby forest and was also surrounded by numerous pieces of garbage left on the ground.
The fire hazard is high to extreme in the Red Lake district and officials stress outdoor fires can quickly escape, especially in dry and windy conditions.
The Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry investigates every wildland fire and may hold those at fault responsible for the costs incurred in fighting the fire.
Safe Campfire Tips:
1. Choose a site:
- Pick a site close to a water source & sheltered from the wind.
- Build your fire on bare rock, bare dirt or other non-combustible material (mineral soil).
- Build your fire at least one metre away from any flammable materials.
- Make sure the space above the fire is at least three metres from overhanging branches & vegetation.
2. Prepare the site:
- Clear a space about two metres wide for the fire.
- Remove pine needles, grass, leaves & twigs.
- Scrape the area right down to the mineral soil.
- Ensure you have a pail of water & a shovel to control the fire.
3. Build your campfire:
- Keep your fire small to a maximum of one metre high & one metre wide.
- Remember that small fires are safer, easier to control & easier to put out.
- A small fire will also keep cooking tools from blackening & let you get close enough to cook.
4. Stay nearby:
- Never leave a campfire unattended.
- Remember that you are responsible for tending your campfire, ensuring it is kept under control, & for putting it out.
5. Put the fire out:
- Pour lots of water on the campfire.
- Stir the ashes with a stick.
- Pour more water over top of the campfire.
- Stir the ashes with a stick again.
- Repeat until:
- the ashes are cold to the touch
- the ashes don’t hiss
- the ashes look soaked
- no more smoke comes from the ashes
