• Open fires, such as campfires, can be fun when prepared safely.campfire image by iChip from Fotolia.com
  
  Open fires can be used for a variety of outdoor activities ranging from camping to family cookouts. When preparing an outdoor fire, it's important that you pay attention to the conditions surrounding you. There are times when it's not safe to have an open fire, and even in safe conditions you must follow safety precautions to avoid creating significant damage with your fire.
  
  

Choose A Safe Location

• Outdoor fires should be started in a fire ring if one is available, according to the firepies website. A fire ring is a circular area where the grass and brush have been removed. Sometimes the edges of the ring are lines with rocks. If no fire ring is available, the website advises starting your fire a minimum of 10 feet from trees and brush. If camping, your tent should be at least 15 feet away from the fire's location.
  
  

Weather Conditions

• Only start a fire in ideal weather conditions. If the area is very dry and has not received rain in a week or more, be very careful to avoid starting it near limbs that could catch on fire. Firepies recommends that you never start a fire when the winds are strong and gusty, as that can help spread the flames and light nearby brush or limbs.
  
  

Additional Firewood

• When storing additional firewood for your open fire, keep it away from the fire. The firepies website recommends keeping it at least six feet away. This will limit the risk of the firewood igniting before you add it to the fire.
  
  

Be Prepared

• Be prepared, just in case your fire starts to get out of hand. Bring a fire extinguisher with you when you plan on starting an open fire. If an extinguisher is not available, have a large container of water nearby that can be used if the fire starts to spread. Another firefighting tool is a shovel with sand or dirt that you can throw on the fire to smother it.
  
  

Fire At Campgrounds

• If you are having a fire at a local campground, make sure you know the regulations in that area for open fires. The Smokey Bear Balloon website recommends contacting the local forest ranger or camp ranger for that park to inquire about the regulations for open fires.