There's nothing quite like a roaring camp fire on a chilly night when spending time in the great outdoors.

The camp fire has been around for thousands of years and has been passed down through the generations from caveman to modern day man.

A hot campfire is a beautiful thing but it can also be a deadly unstoppable inferno if not given the respect it deserves.

Once you have pitched your tent and set up the sleeping quarters your attention will then turn to the fire.

There are a set of rules one should follow when preparing and burning the campfire.
Follow these guidelines and your safety will be greatly improved.

Location of the fire comes first, don't put it too close to the tent or you may find yourself roasting like the marshmallows you ate before bed.
Wind direction has a bearing on the siting of the fire too, you don't want all your gear smoke ridden and reeking like the embers of a barbecue, and you certainly don't want to be inhaling in those smoke fumes whilst you sleep.
Smoke is a greater killer than the flames themselves.

The ground beneath the fire should also be examined, don't set the fire on top of a great mass of dry grass, which incidentally your tent is also sitting on, fire spreads quickly if given the chance.
Set the fire on a bare earth base where possible and place rocks around the circumference of the fire whenever possible, this will help stop any unwanted spread from rolling logs etc.

The size of the fire should be of manageable proportions, don't hurl great timbers onto the blaze that will create great twenty foot high flames and may attract the attention of a fireman's hose, be sensible and have a few small thicker logs burning at any one time.

Never use petrol or other flammable liquids to get the fire off to a blazing start, they are unpredictable and flash flames can and will arise.
Stick to the correct fire lighting equipment like you purchase for your home barbecue.
For those unfamiliar with lighting products, fire lighting sticks and gels are available at most camping stockists.

Use only dry logs that are small and chunky, they will burn longer and wont spit as much as damp logs.

Finally, keep all children away from the fires edge, explain to them the dangers of fire and keep an eye on them at all times.
The taboo of the fire to a child is like the proverbial red rag to a bull.

Never play with the fire, don't pick up logs and swing them round to impress your mates, they wont be impressed by the unsightly scars from being hit by a white hot log.

Be sensible and the fire will give you warmth, light, comfort and even keep the mosquito's at bay. Enjoy!

Learn more about this author, Neil Dixon.
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