How not to immolate yourself at Apogaea – a Fire Safety Update

A friendly update from your friendly BAMF Fire Safety Lead, Sam Ley

Current Burn Ban Status

****No Burn Ban (as of this message)****

This could change at any time. While the cool wet weather has persisted so far, it would only take a few hot, windy days to turn the tide. Please listen for further announcements as we get closer to the event, and always have your “burn ban backups” in place, such as propane inserts for burn barrels, and provisions for cooking without wood or charcoal.

The most dangerous thing in your camp

Not the bear, not your happy-drunk campmate who wants to dance, not even the poofer down the road. Generators are the silent killer, lurking in the woods behind your camp, bubbling angrily next to 50 leaky milk jugs full of gasoline. We pay a lot of attention to the obviously dangerous things in our camps – burn barrels, flame effects and other big fires are treated carefully and with respect (thanks!), but generator safety can easily slip since they are “just infrastructure”.

Last year Apogaea only had two “unplanned fire situations”. One was a stump that was smoldering for no apparent reason. The second was a large and dangerous generator fire. If you are a stump, don’t spontaneously combust, please. If you have a generator, follow these important rules to make sure you don’t become unintentionally engulfed in flames.

Generator Guidelines

• Generators should be in good working order – do not repair them with scotch tape or gum or whatever.
• Fuel storage containers should be designed for the purpose, and in good working order.
• Store fuel at least 20′ away from the generator, and away from tents or structures.
• Clear all flammable materials away from the generator area, grass, pillows, furry coats, etc.
• Sound baffles should limit the use of combustible materials, and have sufficient ventilation for both the generator intake, and the exhaust. Do not fully enclose generators – instead of trying to block all the sound, consider just “deflecting” the sound up, or toward unused areas by only baffling two or three sides of the generator. If any part of the baffle is too hot to touch, it isn’t safe!
• You must have an ABC fire extinguisher within clear sight of the generator. Remember that you may not be the person responding to a burning generator! Don’t “hide” your extinguisher inside a vehicle or tent. If a stranger can’t walk up and see it, it is in the wrong place.

If you have a generator, don’t be surprised if a volunteer swings by to take a gander at it, and don’t be offended if they ask you to make a few changes. They would be sad if you were non-consensually combusted.

As always, if you have questions about your fire at Apogaea, email me at [email protected]