Again this year, the west coast has experienced devastating wildfires. The beauty of the natural landscape with the diversity of everything from forests of towering trees to ocean views draws RVers to the area. But the landscape also creates the very real threat of wildfires which the area has seen far too much of in the past few years. We wanted to take a moment to remind you of the importance of fire safety as you travel in your RV.
Even if you aren’t traveling during the summer months when wildfires are more likely, danger from fire could occur at any time for many different reasons. It’s imperative that you know how to stay safe from fire while RVing and also how to not become part of the problem.
Know where you’re going
Before we get into the tips you can use to prevent wildfires, it’s also important that you pay attention to where you’re headed as you travel. Even if you don’t know the exact area you plan on setting up camp for the night, take the time to check out the direction you’re headed.
You want to confirm that there are not any wildfires in the area. If there are some in close proximity, make sure you know where is safe to travel and the moment and where you need to avoid. The last thing you want to do is put yourself or your family in harm’s way. You don’t want to become one more person trying to quickly evacuate an area.
You can view an active fire map from the USDA Forest Service Site to stay on top of the current locations of wildfires. If you camp close to wildfire areas, you may face restrictions and burn bans as well as have limited activities to choose from due to smoke and air quality. And the most obvious con is that you could need to evacuate quickly or be in danger.
Tips to prevent wildfires
You might have the image of Smokey the Bear in your head thinking back to elementary school days when you learned that “Only you can prevent wildfires”. But there is a lot of truth in the message. According to the numbers, as many as 90% of wildfires are caused by humans. So here are some things you can do to make sure you’re not part of the problem.
Pay attention to the fire restrictions
There are different levels of fire restrictions that may be in place based on the circumstances. When you’re camping, you need to know what the restrictions are in your area. If you’ll be camping at a national park, there should be an alert banner you can check on the website for up-to-date information. State parks and private campgrounds may have this information on their websites as well. However, you can always call the campground or talk to one of the park rangers to get accurate information.
A campfire ban is usually the first restriction put in place. However, as the situation progresses you may also be banned from things like grilling out or doing anything that creates an outdoor flame.
These restrictions and bans aren’t something that you want to play around with. Not only can the punishments be severe but it could also be dangerous.
Be prepared if you have a fire
If you’re going to have a fire at your camp, here are some tips to keep in mind.
• Use the fire ring or pit if there is one at the campsite. Metal fire rings and pits help to eliminate the chance that your fire spreads.
• Look above your fire. Make sure there are no low-hanging branches that could catch on fire with a spark.
• Dig a pit if there isn’t one at your site. Place it away from any material that could catch fire. And surround the pit with rocks.
• Keep the fire small. You don’t need a massive fire in order to stay warm, roast marshmallows, or cook on. Keep your fire to the size you actually need it to be.
• Don’t use flammable liquids to start the fire.
• Keep water on hand. When you want to put the fire out, make sure you soak the entire fire including the logs. Move things around in the fire pit and then pour more water on it. Fires can easily restart if they aren’t completely put out.
• Watch the wind. If it’s too windy, don’t start a fire. If the wind picks up, put your fire out.
• Never leave a fire unattended. Don’t go to sleep with the fire still burning.
• Keep a fire extinguisher in your RV at all times and that you know how to use it.
Stay safe
Getting a new RV is exciting! There is plenty of adventure and fun to be had out on the road and tons of incredible memories to create. That’s why the most important thing is to always pay attention to the safety considerations as you travel. Have fun and stay safe RVers!
