Avoid windy areas as a fire can flare and spread to become uncontrollable. If required build a screen or windbreak from rocks, green wood, digging a pit. This allows you to control the burn of the fire as well as potentially direct the heat in specific directions.
Clear the site of your fire of all potentially flammable materials, before starting the fire. Rake any dry leaves towards the fire, this can be used as kindling. Clear a perimeter around the area to maintain complete control.
Be careful when building a fire against an old tree or large log, as this may smoulder for days and catch fire under a strong gust of wind causing danger to any surrounding flammable materials.
Do not start the fire under or close to “green woods” as they will dry out from the heat and potentially catch fire.
When putting the fire out ensure that every ember has benne entirely drenched with water so that there is no danger of it recatching fire when it is left unattended. Try to cover it with earth or sand to ensure safety.
If the ground is wet, or snow covered, build a platform from rocks or green wood. Do not use wet or humid rocks as these may explode when heated.
