Safety First

Well, here we go! The first cookoff of the year has come and gone. If you were not there, don't worry - nobody else was there either.

The annual LSBS COTY cookoff scheduled for Jan. 13th & 14th was cancelled due in part to the statewide burn ban. It has been rescheduled for March 3rd & 4th.  Although a cookoff isn't directly affected by a burn ban, as long as there are no open fires, the LSBS officials made the decision not to tempt fate.

Please remember that the Lions Club and the City of Fairfield were willing to let the cookoff happen. They felt that we were a responsible group of people who would take all the necessary precautions in order to ensure an uneventful event.

We all need to make an effort to support the 2 cookoffs that they have each year.

On to my thoughts -

With no end in sight for the statewide drought, we all need to look at our own cookoff setups and take the necessary precautions for our pastime.

Fire Extinguisher - We should carry at least one good, fully charged fire extinguisher with our cooking rig. Many cookoffs require that you have one (in their flyers and entry forms), but I have never been required to show mine to anyone. Once you get in the habit of taking one to the cookoff, get in the habit of putting it in a location where you or anyone else can get to it in the event of an emergency.

Water Hose - Many locations that have cookoffs have electricity and water available. Carry an extra hose and splitter so you might have water to cool an errant coal that will escape your firebox.

Shovel - Be prepared to bury a small fire or dig a small firebreak around your firebox.

Rake - I carry a rake everywhere I go in order to clear a spot for a tent. It only takes a minute to rake around your pit, getting rid of alot of excess grass and leaves - fuel for a fire!

Many locations provide barrels for grease and ashes. It's easy to clean out a firebox before you hit the road, eliminating the possibility of starting a fire on the way home. Consider carrying a metal can in case nothing is available at the site.

Our sport is in grave danger due to the dangerous conditions we currently have. We, as a group, need to be as responsible as we can be in order to protect the lives and property of the people in the places where we travel, as well as ensure that we still have cookoffs to attend.