Camping During Fire Bans: Safety and Solutions
You’ve made your list and you’ve checked it thirty-seven times ensuring you have everything needed for your upcoming camping trip, but did you check on the fire restrictions and bans at your destination? If you did already, good job! If you didn’t, here’s the why and how about fire bans so that you are always prepared.
Why Do We Have Fire Bans?
Fire bans were established to protect lives and property from dangerous wildfires. As we’ve seen over the last few years, small fires have the capability of turning into “megafires” rapidly, especially in the dry and windy conditions of some of our favorite places to hike, camp, and ride.
According to the National Interagency Fire Center, 87% of wildfires each year are caused by humans. That means many wildfires are preventable. Through education and adherence to bans and restrictions, we can save thousands, if not millions, of acres of our beautiful backyard.
Types of Fire Bans
In order to “help land management agencies reduce fire risk and prevent wildfires during periods of high or extreme fire danger”, the National Interagency Fire Center has outlined two stages of fire bans.
In Stage One-
You MAY NOT build, maintain or use a fire, campfire, charcoal broiler, or a coal or wood burning stove anywhere in underdeveloped areas.
You MAY build a fire that is constructed in a permanent fire pit or fire grate within a developed recreation site
OR
You MAY utilize a portable stove or lantern that uses gas, jellied petroleum, or pressurized liquid fuel; or a fully enclosed stove with a ¼” spark arrestor screen
In Stage Two-
You MAY NOT build, maintain, attend, or use a fire, campfire, coal or wood burning stove, any type of charcoal fueled broiler, grill or barbeque, or open fire of ANY TYPE. Even if inside developed camping or picnic grounds.
You MAY utilize a device that uses pressurized liquid or gas (stoves, grills and lanterns) that have shut-off valves and are used in an area at least three feet or more from flammable material (grasses, pine needles, etc.)
At this point, the danger is at a level where restrictions and bans will not be able to adequately mitigate the risk of a man-made fire and there will be land closures
How to Still Have a Campfire: Propane Fire Pit
While remaining vigilant about fire safety, you don’t have to stop camping in comfort. A propane fire pit can be utilized under both Stage One and Stage Two restrictions. In fact, propane fire pits are a great tool on any trip or get together.
They offer:
Portability
Quick heat
No smoke
Less hassle
Easier use in inclement weather
Affordability (propane vs purchasing wood or charcoal)
TAC Rentals makes it even more convenient by providing a propane fire pit as an add-on to any Denver campervan or 4x4 rental. Or rent a propane fire pit on its own starting at $20/day and includes a propane tank. Contact us today with questions or to reserve!
Vigilance with Fire Safety
A fire can get out of control at any time. Make sure that you are taking every precaution whenever starting a fire in the great outdoors. Take the time to educate yourself on fire safety before heading out on your next trip.
For a full list of restrictions, please see this Fire Restriction Chart provided by the National Interagency Fire Center. It includes guidelines on smoking, operating internal and external combustion engines, use of explosives (DON’T USE THEM), etc.
References and Educational Information:
Current fire bans in Colorado (by county) and active fires: http://www.coemergency.com/p/fire-bans-danger.html
https://smokeybear.com/en/prevention-how-tos/campfire-safety
https://www.nifc.gov/fire-information/fire-prevention-education-mitigation/wildfire-prevention
http://www.custercountygov.com/pdf/ColoradoBurnBanDefinitions.pdf