Outdoor fire safety

01 — Extinguishing a campfire

A campfire that looks out is not necessarily out. The correct method is drown, stir, drown — until the ash is cold to the touch.

Campfires and fire pit fires cause wildfires and property fires every year because they were not fully extinguished before people left the site. Embers can remain hot enough to reignite hours after the visible fire appears dead. Wind is enough to carry a hot ember onto dry vegetation.

1. Allow wood to burn down to ash if time permits. Smaller pieces extinguish more completely and leave less residual heat.
2. Drown the fire with water. Pour water slowly over all embers, coals, and ash — not just the center. Every part of the fire area needs to be wet.
3. Stir the ash and embers. Use a shovel or stick to mix wet ash and expose any remaining hot spots. Dry ash underneath can still be hot.
4. Drown again. Pour more water over everything that was stirred. Repeat the cycle until the hissing of steam stops entirely.
5. Test with the back of your hand. Hold your hand close to — but not touching — the ash. If you feel heat, the fire is not out. Continue drowning and stirring. The ash should be cold to the touch before you leave.

Additional precautions: never start an outdoor fire on a windy or dry day; keep fires at least 10 feet from anything that can burn; never leave an outdoor fire unattended; keep water or a shovel nearby whenever a fire is burning.

02 — Wildfire smoke protection

When wildfire smoke creates unhealthy air quality, the priority is keeping outdoor particulates out of your home and your lungs.

Wildfire smoke is a complex mixture of fine particles and gases produced when wood and other organic materials burn. The primary health threat is fine particulate matter (PM2.5) — particles small enough to penetrate deep into the lungs and enter the bloodstream. The EPA, CDC, and state health agencies all recommend similar indoor protection measures during smoke events.

Seal gaps in windows and doors with tape or weatherstripping to reduce smoke infiltration. After smoke clears, air out your home by opening windows. Replace HVAC filters after extended smoke events. Avoid vacuuming ash or soot without a HEPA filter — it re-suspends particles.

03 — Burn pile safety

Burning yard debris carries higher risk than most people recognize — especially on dry or windy days, and in areas with burn bans.

Open burning of brush, leaves, and yard debris is restricted or prohibited in many jurisdictions, particularly during dry periods and fire weather. Before burning, check with your local fire authority for current burn restrictions or permit requirements. Many areas issue seasonal burn bans that carry fines for violations — and more importantly, reflect real elevated fire conditions.

• Never burn on windy or dry days. Wind carries lit embers well beyond the burn area. NFPA guidance is explicit on this: dry or windy conditions are a stop condition for any outdoor burning.
• Clear a non-combustible perimeter around the burn pile. Remove dry grass, leaves, and other fuels from the area before igniting.
• Have a hose connected to water supply or a bucket of water immediately available. NFPA's fire code requires a person burning outdoors to have water or other extinguishing equipment readily accessible at all times.
• Never use gasoline, diesel, or other flammable liquids to start or accelerate a burn pile — vapors can cause an explosive ignition that spreads the fire beyond your control instantly.
• Never leave a burn pile unattended. NFPA requires constant attendance of any open fire until it is fully extinguished.
• Extinguish fully with water before leaving — same drown-stir-drown method as a campfire. Ash from a burn pile can remain hot for hours.
• Be aware of overhead lines and tree canopy above the burn area.