Campfire Safety

Camping fun usually includes enjoying a good campfire. It has many uses – heating, cooking, roasting marshmallows, and providing a story-telling atmosphere. While camping at A-J Acres, please follow these simple rules to protect the beautiful surroundings you are visiting for your enjoyment and safety and that of your fellow campers.

Do’s and Do Nots

• DO NOT… bring firewood from home or an unapproved firewood retailer. Bringing firewood from other places spreads diseases that affect the trees and beauty of the forest that you have come to expect at A-J Acres.
• DO… Purchase your firewood locally from a state-licensed retailer. We sell firewood at comparable rates and will deliver it to your fire ring.
• DO NOT… collect firewood from the surrounding campsites (un-mowed regions). Our forest has a balanced ecosystem and requires the deadfall for the health of the soil, trees, and living space for the animals you expect to see at A-J Acres.
• DO… You may collect any sticks you find in the mowed area.
• DO NOT… build fires outside of the camp-provided fire ring. We have decided where it is safe to make fires for the enjoyment and safety of the campground.
• DO… Request a fire ring if your site does not currently have one. Some of our sites do not have permanent fire rings for those who would rather not have a fire. We will provide one and set it up for you in this situation.
• Always make sure children and pets are supervised when near the fire.
• Never leave your campfire unattended. Even a slight breeze could quickly cause the fire to spread.

Occasionally, we have severe dry periods where, even with campfire rings, fires can be hard to control. If we have such a period, you will be notified at check-in that fires are prohibited.

Extinguishing Your Campfire

When you’re ready to put out your fire and call it a night, follow these guidelines:

1. Allow the wood to burn completely to ash, if possible.
2. Pour lots of water on the fire; drown ALL embers, not just the red ones. Pour until the hissing sound stops.
3. Stir the campfire ashes and embers with a shovel and scrape the sticks and logs to remove any embers.
4. Stir and make sure everything is wet and they are cold to the touch

REMEMBER: If it’s too hot to touch, it’s too hot to leave!

Directions to build inexpensive campfire starters.

This project is perfect for scouting, youth groups, and children of all ages. This fire starter is much safer than lighter fluids to use and just as effective.

1. Pack dryer lint in each cup of a cardboard egg carton in the bottom tray.
2. Melt old crayons, candles, or paraffin wax in a double boiler.
3. Place stuffed egg cartons on a surface that wax will not affect, as it may seep through the egg container.
4. Pour the wax into each cup, but do not fill to the top. Let it cool before moving.
5. To use, tear off one or two cups from the egg carton and light it with a match or lighter.

Don’t burn dangerous things!

• Never burn aerosol cans or pressurized containers. They may explode.
• Never put glass in the fire pit. Glass does not melt away, it only heats up and shatters. Broken slivers of glass are dangerous.
• Aluminum cans do not burn. The aluminum only breaks down into smaller pieces. Inhaling aluminum dust can be harmful to your lungs.
• Plastic will burn but gives off dangerous fumes. Please dispose of plastic in the trash.