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johnsong3 · 02-10-2013, 08:19 PM

I was awakened from a nap today by a park employee yelling for us to move our coach because of a brush fire. I jumped up and yelled to my wife to get the coach ready to roll and ran outside. There was indeed a fire that was feeding off the brush beginning to work it's way up the base of pine trees. It was increasing in size due to strong winds that were blowing it away from our coaches.
Fortunately I had a lengthy hose already hooked up and three additional campers ran over with their hoses. Working with the park employee we were able contain it for the 15 minutes it took the fire department to get there. In the end there was no damage to any of the coaches. Thanks to the park employee warning us and everyone pulling together.
Now why am I telling you about this? Because this was the result of three campers that had used a fire pit at their site the night before. Before leaving their site at 11 am today they decided to dump the coals out of their pit and the most convenient place was in the brush behind our coach. Please people, if you build a fire in one of these pits, please douse it with water before disposing of the coals, or better yet bury them. I am sure they did not even consider the ashes could still be hot and cause a fire.
The fire was stopped 30 feet from our coach. It would not have been a good day!

Wayne M · 02-10-2013, 09:08 PM

Wow! So happy that you were notified in time, and that you and others took the action you did.

You were lucky.

slickest1 · 02-10-2013, 09:23 PM

Wow close call, I glad it ended the way it did. That would be scary. People sure don't think sometimes. They insist on having campfires even when things are dry and hazardous and then can't make sure it is put out properly. Too bad they didn't get caught.

HappyCCRVr · 02-10-2013, 09:51 PM

Anyone old enough to play with fire should know that...doh!

Congratulations on your quick thinking and good prevention work!
Good all ended well.

sdennislee · 02-10-2013, 10:30 PM

Close call. GLad it worked out ok

johnsong3 · 02-11-2013, 06:32 AM

They left their trailer at the campground. Would love to hear what the manager has to say to them when they return. At least they will have the opportunity to view the result of their thoughtlessness.

DSL417 · 02-11-2013, 06:46 AM

OP says they left their site at 11 AM, probably moving on. Hopefully, the campground host has their address and can send them the FD bill. They don't come for free in many places. Or, at least send them a note suggesting thwy are more careful

Glad your coaches are safe.

Unfortunately, this is why more and more places are banning "open fires". Properly tended, a contained fire pit with appropriate cover is a nice evening in the winter in many of the places we camp.

Dog Folks · 02-11-2013, 07:09 AM

Another caution: Please don't move the fire pit to make it better for you. You may be moving to an area of the site,(overhanging trees, etc,) where using a fire pit would be dangerous.

One state park that we host at has poured concrete anchors undergournd to anchor them in place. Yet we had one camper that was going to dig it up! After being informed that he would be evicted, without refund, he changed his mind. I have to admit that the pit was kind of in his way, but it the only safe spot in the site.

Gadget63 · 02-11-2013, 07:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dog Folks

Another caution: Please don't move the fire pit to make it better for you. You may be moving to an area of the site,(overhanging trees, etc,) where using a fire pit would be dangerous.

One state park that we host at has poured concrete anchors undergournd to anchor them in place. Yet we had one camper that was going to dig it up! After being informed that he would be evicted, without refund, he changed his mind. I have to admit that the pit was kind of in his way, but it the only safe spot in the site.

That's amazing but not surprising. I am always in awe at what people will do at times.

Wayne M · 02-11-2013, 07:39 AM

I have a suggestion.

Don't have open fires at all.

I say that because DW has COPD, and I'm not that good when there is camp fire smoke. If fires are allowed and they are burning, we are good neighbors - close up and turn on the AC or fan. Smoke bothers us a lot and i also wish others would be more considerate.

Dave (DSL417) I don't think in this case anything other than not having fires would have prevented what they did. They had a fire pit. They took it to the area and dumped it. That is just plain stupidity if not negligence.

Happy trails.

TdogKing · 02-11-2013, 08:48 AM

I for one enjoy a Campfire and think Campgrounds that have fire rings should think a little before making them permanent.

Gadget63 · 02-11-2013, 09:03 AM

Like you Wayne, campfires are just not that appealing to us anymore. We have spent a total of near 70 days in our MH and not once did we have a fire going. We save that for when the kids and grandkids come along. Although to be honest, we still do love the smell of a campfire, just not ours...

Gorlininc · 02-11-2013, 09:11 AM

Stupid people do stupid things. How foolish.

Fred1609 · 02-11-2013, 09:14 AM

Can't fix stupid. We noticed last year that a lot of CGs no longer allowed campfires. One CG had a rental notice for those portable propane fire pits. I think with all the rules, regulations and directives we add to the books every day we were becoming a society that no longer considers the common sense angle or the consequences.