Driftwood Outdoors: Use good judgment to prevent wildfires

Many favorite summer activities involve a fire. Whether you're camping in the backcountry or roasting marshmallows in the backyard, a campfire often serves as the centerpiece of an attempt to relax.

That is, until something goes wrong and your relaxing campfire creates a nightmare.

Human error is responsible for starting 90 percent of wildfires. While lightning and other natural causes are responsible for some fires, the vast majority are man-made accidents, which are often avoidable with a little effort.

If all of us just take some precaution, we can prevent thousands upon thousands of wildfires that would otherwise be destructive to personal property and wildlife habitat, and at their worst could even cause a loss of life.

Fire danger is a serious threat to much of the country. I'm preparing to leave for the Boundary Waters in June, and we are now worried we may be under a fire ban. This is a National Park based on water. It's hard to believe fire danger is that eminent up there, but it is.

States like Alaska, California, Colorado, Montana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Washington and many more states are constantly battling wildfires. Human error can be blamed for many. Precaution could save thousands upon thousands of acres, people's homes and most importantly, lives.

Each year, we hear stories of people's homes and businesses burned due to wildfires that spread into town. At times, thousands of people in fire areas must evacuate. Worst of all, each year lives are lost. All because a person or outdoors didn't take the proper precautions to ensure their fire did not spread.

As we travel to camp and enjoy ourselves outdoors, we must be cautious. Wildfires are more prevalent in the West, but the Midwest is also susceptible. Fire danger increases in hot and dry weather, especially when it's windy.

Embers and ashes picked up by the wind can travel far and fast, turning a campfire into a wildfire.

While campfires are a major cause of manmade wildfires, they are not the only way we can start an unintentional blaze. Fireworks are a big contributor. As are vehicles parked in dry grass or debris. Next time you plan to burn, keep these safety tips provided by the Michigan DNR in mind:

Build your campfire in a metal ring or pit. Never leave a fire unattended, even for a moment. When you're done, thoroughly douse the fire with water, stir and douse again.

When using fireworks, keep a hose handy and make sure to soak used sparklers in water before discarding them. Never shoot fireworks into dry grass, brush or trees.

When barbecuing, never leave the grill unattended and keep a water source nearby.

When pulling a trailer, ensure tow chains don't drag and cause sparks, which can light a fire along the road's edge.

Avoid using heavy machinery like lawnmowers in dry areas. Don't park an ORV or other vehicle on dry grass, as a hot exhaust system can ignite the grass.

Before burning yard debris, see if burn permits are being issued or if weather conditions allow for safe burning. If you do burn, keep your debris piles small. A large pile can burn for hours.

These are just a few tips for safe burning. Ultimately, common sense is going to play a big factor in the safety of your fire. Don't burn on windy days. Don't burn around a lot of flammable material. Never leave a fire unattended. Make sure your coals are completely out. If you follow these suggestions and make wise decisions, you can help limit the number of destructive wildfires we face each year.

See you down the trail...

For more Driftwood Outdoors, check out the podcast on www.driftwoodoutdoors.com or anywhere podcasts are streamed.