ATLANTA, Ga. – May 25, 2011 – Enviro-Log®, Inc., an eco-friendly, consumer products and recycling company, offers some valuable campfire safety tips to reduce the risk of injury and environmental and property damage while camping.
According to a report by the Outdoor Foundation™, camping was the third most popular outdoor activity among American adults (age 25+) in 2010 with approximately 25 million participants. As camping continues to grow in popularity, so does the potential for accidents and injury.
“Campfires are typically the most dangerous element of any campsite and not practicing proper fire safety can result in forest fires, brush fires, destruction of natural resources and property as well the endangerment of wildlife, other campers and area residents,” said Ross McRoy, president of Enviro-Log. “Campfires should only be started in a safe, designated area of a campsite such as a proper fire ring or fire pit and away from hanging branches, dry brush and leaves. Fires should never be left unattended and campers should always completely extinguish their fires before leaving a campsite. Also, be sure to check with your state parks, campsites and recreation areas for rules on campfires as well as transportation and use of firewood.”
Enviro-Log offers the following tips for a safe and enjoyable campfire:- Follow the rules. Check if the campground or area rules prohibit campfires and if the local area conditions have restricted open burning. Find out if the campground has an existing fire ring or fire pit. If there is not an existing fire pit, and pits are allowed, ensure that the site you use is at least 15 feet away from tent walls, shrubs, trees or other flammable objects, including overhanging branches. Also, check to see what kind of burning materials can be used; most states restrict transporting unapproved firewood into any state park, state forest or day-use area including: Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Delaware, Ohio, Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Washington, Utah, California and Oregon.
- Prepare the site. Choose a spot that is protected from wind gusts and at least fifteen feet from your tent and gear. Do not build a fire at a site in hazardous, dry conditions. Clear a 15-foot diameter area around the fire location site. Remove any grass, twigs, leaves and firewood. Also, make sure there are not any tree limbs or flammable objects hanging overhead. If an existing fire ring or fire pit is not provided, dig a pit in the dirt, about a foot deep and circle the pit with rocks.
- Don’t burn dangerous items. Never use flammable liquids to ignite or keep your fire burning. This means, avoid gasoline, diesel fuel, lighter fluid and other dangerous fuels. Never burn aerosol cans or pressurized containers. Never put glass in the fire pit. Glass can heat up and shatter.
- Maintain your campfire. Keep your fire to a manageable size. Make sure children and pets are supervised when near the fire. NEVER leave your campfire unattended.
- Extinguish your campfire before you leave the campsite. Allow the wood or firelog to burn completely to ash, if possible. Pour water on the fire and be sure to drown ALL embers, not just the red ones. Make sure you listen for the hissing sound to stop. Stir the campfire ashes and embers with a shovel to ensure nothing is still burning. Scrape sticks and logs to remove any embers. Make sure everything is wet.
Ron Eakins, an Enviro-Log customer in Texas added, “With the gathering of fire wood prohibited in Texas state parks, I find that the Enviro-Log firelogs are an excellent substitute for real wood. I’ve even given out Enviro-Log firelogs to Boy Scout troops that have been camping nearby, and reminded them that gathering wood is restricted in the state park. The troop leaders were impressed that the flames from the logs last longer than three hours and they give off a generous amount of heat. They also appreciate the fact that the Enviro-Log firelogs are made of recycled material and that you can cook over the logs, unlike conventional firelogs.”
For additional information on camping safety visit:
* Don’t Move Firewood Web site
* Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
About Enviro-Log, Inc.
Enviro-Log® is an eco-friendly, consumer products and recycling company headquartered in Fitzgerald, Ga. Enviro-Log is the largest waxed cardboard recycler in North America and the third largest producer of manufactured firelogs in the U.S. Its firelogs are made of 100 percent recycled materials and burn cleaner than wood while providing 50 percent more heat per pound. Enviro-Log firelogs can be purchased at select national retail locations including Lowes, Wal-Mart, Rite Aid, Home Depot, K-Mart, Whole Foods, Weis Markets, Fred Meyer, Sutherlands, Harris Teeter, Winn-Dixie and regional retailers throughout the U.S. Enviro-Log firelogs are also available in Canada at Lowe’s, Wal-Mart, and Canadian Tire locations. You can also follow Enviro-Log on Facebook®
Enviro-Log is a registered trademark of Enviro-Log, Inc. All other trademarks or registered trademarks are properties of their respective companies.
