FIRE SAFETY REMINDER

Dear Homeowners ...

We would like to remind everyone about the importance of Fire Safety in our community.  As a licensed campground, we are allowed to have campfires on our sites.  But along with that privilege comes responsibility.

• Fires MUST be attended at all times by an ADULT.
• Water MUST be readily available either via a hose or several large buckets of water.
• Fires MUST BE COMPLETELY EXTINGUISHED before going to bed for the night or leaving your site.  If it's too hot to touch, it's too hot to leave!
• In addition to camp fires, cigarettes MUST be completely extinguished and disposed of properly.  DO NOT TOSS LIT CIGARETTES ANYWHERE but especially not into the wooded sections of our property or along the access road.  There are a lot of dry leaves, pine needles, etc. in those wooded areas that can easily ignite.  (Take a look when you're driving along the access road.) While we've had our share of rain, a series of sunny days can make the forest debris and undergrowth very dry and vulnerable.

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A full copy of Campfire Safety Guidelines are listed below for your reference.

• OSC is licensed as a "campground".  Therefore, every homeowner is able to have a campfire/fire pit on their property without obtaining an individual permit.
• Campfires are NOT permitted when there are dry and windy conditions.  A sign will be posted accordingly at the entrance to the Campground.  This is dictated by the local Fire Marshall, not the OSC Board.
• Even if there isn't a ban on campfires per the Fire Marshall, use your judgement in windy conditions.  Embers can easily become airborne and fall on nearby furniture, leaf piles, or homes!  (This is particularly important in the spring when there are large amounts of leaves on everyone's property.)  Sudden gusts of wind can spread a fire.  The fire should be extinguished when conditions become unsafe.
• Campfires must be contained in a fire ring made of metal or block or a metal fire pit.  No fires should be lit directly on the ground as they could ignite underground roots.
• Do not light a fire under overhanging branches.
• Campfires/fire pits must be monitored at all times by an adult. Unattended fires are not allowed.
• Never use lighter fluid, gas, kerosene, or other flammable liquids to start a fire.
• Do not burn leaves or trash.
• Maintain a safe distance from structures and other flammable items.  You should strive to maintain as much distance as possible from your mobile home and your neighbors' homes.
• Keep your fire to a manageable size.  Campfires should be less than 3 feet in height.
• Water must be readily available to extinguish the fire via a nearby hose or several large buckets of water.
• Fires must be thoroughly extinguished before leaving the area.  Pour lots of water on the fire.  Drown ALL embers, not just the red ones.  Pour until the hissing sound stops.  That means you must be able to hold your hand over (not on) the coals without feeling any heat.  If it's too hot to touch, it's too hot to leave.