Camping Safety

There's nothing like waking up to the fresh mountain air, the smell of pine trees, and a roaring campfire. However, weather conditions, poor planning or fire dangers can put a damper on your camping trip. Here area a few simple tips to help make your camping trip fun and safe!

• Use flame-retardant tents and sleeping bags if possible, but assume tents and sleeping bags are flammable and be careful with fire.
• Keep stoves, lanterns and candles out of tents.
• Place campfires and stoves away from tents or sleeping gear, keep fire downwind.
• Extinguish fires before going to sleep.
• Keep cooking, heating and lighting equipment in good repair and follow instructions in its use.
• Don't smoke cigarettes, pipes or cigars near sleeping bags.
• Avoid using carbon monoxide releasing charcoal and catalytic products in unventilated areas.
• Transport flammable liquids in safety containers, keep them capped, out of tents and away from children.

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Campfire Tips

A small campfire can turn into a roaring forest fire. Take precautions when lighting, maintaining and putting out your campfire:
1. Dig a small pit away from overhanging branches. (Most parks have campfire pits ready and waiting for you.)
2. Circle the pit with rocks or be sure it already has a metal fire ring.
3. Clear a five-foot area around the pit down to the soil.
4. Keep a bucket of water and a shovel nearby. To extinguish the fire, cover with dirt or pour water over it.
5. Stack extra wood upwind and away from the fire.
6. After lighting, do not discard the match until it is cold.
7. Never leave a campfire unattended, not even for a minute. Always put out a campfire when going to sleep or leaving the campsite.

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You can also check each U.S. Forest in Colorado for individual restrictions:

• Arapaho
• San Isabel
• Gunnison
• San Juan
• Rio Grande
• White River