Unit 2 2.1 Safe siting, lighting and management of a campfire.
Fire Lighting and Management
One of the things that Forest School participants really seem to enjoy are fires. Fires provide an
opportunity for a variety of different experiences from cooking, to telling stories or even just
warming up at the end of FS sessions. Safety is of paramount importance, therefore, before you
start having fun it is important to carefully consider this.
Fires need to be treated with respect. They may easily cause serious injuries to an individual or
group. If not controlled properly they may spread throughout the surrounding area causing
serious and often irreversible destruction.
During the period of time preceding fire building, it is important to have an understanding of the
“Fire Triangle”. Being cognizant with this is essential for lighting fires and extinguishing them.
The fire triangle is a simple way of understanding the elements of fire. The sides of the triangle
represent the interdependent ingredients needed for fire: heat, fuel and oxygen.
Element Description
In most situations, you require oxygen to create combustion (the fire’s chemical
reaction). In most cases, this is simply the oxygen in the air.
So, the air in our atmosphere is a good source of oxygen for fires to take off.
Heat is required to start a fire. But, once the fire begins, it often generates
enough heat to keep the fire going without needing to add continually.
pg. 1
, Unit 2 2.1 Safe siting, lighting and management of a campfire.
The third and final fire triangle element is fuel, which is the heart and soul of
fire. It releases the stored energy in heat and light during combustion.
Fuels for fire are different from other forms of power, like batteries that release
electrical energy or springs that release mechanical energy. In contrast, all these
different types of fuels all release stored energy, while fuels for fire release them
in the form of heat and light
When facilitating a fire-based experience there are three main stages that need to be considered
building, burning and putting it out.
Building.
When building a fire there are several things to consider before you reach the fire building point:
Fire Circle Safety
When working with larger groups it is important to consider how to keep the fire circle safe
when people are completing their activities around the fire and moving out of the fire area. In
this situation, plan your fire circle carefully and brief the group on the rules before the fire is lit.
pg. 2
Fire Lighting and Management
One of the things that Forest School participants really seem to enjoy are fires. Fires provide an
opportunity for a variety of different experiences from cooking, to telling stories or even just
warming up at the end of FS sessions. Safety is of paramount importance, therefore, before you
start having fun it is important to carefully consider this.
Fires need to be treated with respect. They may easily cause serious injuries to an individual or
group. If not controlled properly they may spread throughout the surrounding area causing
serious and often irreversible destruction.
During the period of time preceding fire building, it is important to have an understanding of the
“Fire Triangle”. Being cognizant with this is essential for lighting fires and extinguishing them.
The fire triangle is a simple way of understanding the elements of fire. The sides of the triangle
represent the interdependent ingredients needed for fire: heat, fuel and oxygen.
Element Description
In most situations, you require oxygen to create combustion (the fire’s chemical
reaction). In most cases, this is simply the oxygen in the air.
So, the air in our atmosphere is a good source of oxygen for fires to take off.
Heat is required to start a fire. But, once the fire begins, it often generates
enough heat to keep the fire going without needing to add continually.
pg. 1
, Unit 2 2.1 Safe siting, lighting and management of a campfire.
The third and final fire triangle element is fuel, which is the heart and soul of
fire. It releases the stored energy in heat and light during combustion.
Fuels for fire are different from other forms of power, like batteries that release
electrical energy or springs that release mechanical energy. In contrast, all these
different types of fuels all release stored energy, while fuels for fire release them
in the form of heat and light
When facilitating a fire-based experience there are three main stages that need to be considered
building, burning and putting it out.
Building.
When building a fire there are several things to consider before you reach the fire building point:
Fire Circle Safety
When working with larger groups it is important to consider how to keep the fire circle safe
when people are completing their activities around the fire and moving out of the fire area. In
this situation, plan your fire circle carefully and brief the group on the rules before the fire is lit.
pg. 2
