Summer is in full swing. There’s no better way to celebrate the season than to have fun with friends and family around a campfire. Follow these tips to make a safe campfire at your next celebration:
• Only burn local wood: Limit the spread of invasive species by following New York State’s Firewood Regulation. Untreated, New York - grown firewood must stay within a 50-mile radius of its source or origin, and untreated firewood may not be brought into New York from another state. Heat-treated firewood can be transported anywhere in New York, but it must have a receipt or label that says, “New York Approved Heat-Treated Firewood/Pest Free.”
• Never leave fires unattended: Watch over your fire and have an extinguisher or water bucket nearby for emergencies.
• Fire danger map: Check the fire danger map to know if the conditions in your area are safe for making a fire.
• Stay out of the smoke: Smoke is full of particulate matter and can cause harm when inhaled. Avoid breathing smoke as much as possible, especially if you have a health condition like asthma.
• Never burn trash: Burning trash is illegal in New York state year-round due to its adverse environmental and health. Even small amounts of waste, such as food wrappers and packaging, can release toxic fumes if tossed into a campfire. Leave No TraceTM by disposing of waste properly and leaving the land as you found it.
Don’t let an unsafe campfire ruin your summer fun. Following these safety tips will help safeguard human health and protect our environment.
