Campsite fire safety is one of those topics that sits quietly in the background until something goes wrong. A stray barbecue ember, a faulty hook up cable, a campfire that catches the wind. For UK campsite owners, getting fire safety right is not optional. It is a legal requirement, and it protects your guests, your site and your livelihood. This guide walks through everything you need to know, from risk assessments and pitch spacing to fire points and guest communication.

Why fire safety matters more on campsites

Campsites present a unique combination of risks that you would not find in most other businesses. You have open flames from barbecues and campfires. You have electrical hookups running across grass. You have tents and awnings made from materials that can catch and spread fire quickly. And you have guests who may not be familiar with your site layout or where your fire points are located.

On top of that, many campsites are in rural locations where the fire service may take longer to arrive. That makes prevention and early response even more critical. A small fire dealt with quickly is an inconvenience. A fire that spreads because nobody knew where the extinguisher was can be devastating.

Your legal obligations as a site owner

In England and Wales, the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 applies to most campsites. In Scotland, the Fire (Scotland) Act 2005 covers similar ground. These laws require you, as the responsible person, to carry out a fire risk assessment and take reasonable steps to reduce the risk of fire on your site.

This applies whether you run a CL site with five pitches or a large touring park with hundreds. The scale of your assessment will differ, but the obligation is the same. You must:

If you employ staff, you must also provide fire safety training. Even if you run the site alone, documenting your assessment is good practice. It shows due diligence if anything ever goes wrong.

Carrying out a fire risk assessment

A fire risk assessment does not need to be complicated. For smaller sites, you can do it yourself. For larger parks, you may want to bring in a professional assessor. Either way, the process follows five steps.

Step 1: Identify fire hazards

Walk your site and look for anything that could start a fire or help one spread. Common hazards on campsites include:

Step 2: Identify who is at risk

Think about who could be harmed. This includes guests (some of whom may have mobility issues), children, staff, and anyone visiting the site. Consider guests who may be sleeping and slower to respond to an alarm.

Step 3: Evaluate the risks and take action

For each hazard, decide how likely it is to cause a fire and how serious the consequences would be. Then take practical steps to reduce the risk. For example, if dry grass near pitches is a concern, you might mow more frequently during summer or ban ground barbecues altogether.

Step 4: Record your findings

Write down what you found, what you decided to do about it, and when you did it. This does not need to be a formal report. A clear, dated document is enough. Keep it somewhere you can find it easily.

Step 5: Review regularly

Review your assessment at least once a year, or whenever something significant changes. A new building, a change in pitch layout, or a near miss should all trigger a review.

Pitch spacing and site layout

One of the most effective fire safety measures on any campsite is proper pitch spacing. The standard guidance for touring pitches is a minimum of six metres between units. This means six metres between the nearest points of each caravan, motorhome, or tent, including awnings and guy ropes.

For CS sites and smaller parks, this can feel like it reduces your capacity. But the spacing exists for a very good reason. Fire can jump between units that are too close together, and six metres gives the fire service room to work if they need to.

If you use campsite management software to map your pitches, make sure the pitch boundaries reflect these spacing rules. It is much easier to enforce spacing when your booking system knows the physical layout of your site.

Access for emergency vehicles

Fire engines need to reach your site. That means keeping access roads clear, ensuring gates are wide enough (at least 3.7 metres is the usual guidance), and making sure vehicles can turn around. If your site has a barrier or locked gate, have a plan for how the fire service will get through out of hours.

Fire points and equipment

Every campsite should have fire points positioned so that no pitch is more than 30 metres from one. Each fire point should include, at minimum:

For sites with electrical hookups, consider adding a CO2 extinguisher near the supply point for electrical fires. For sites with a kitchen or cooking area, a fire blanket is essential.

Check your extinguishers regularly. They need a basic visual check every month and a professional service every year. Out of date extinguishers are worse than useless because they give a false sense of security.

Smoke and carbon monoxide detection

If you have any enclosed accommodation on site, such as pods, static caravans, cabins, or a reception building, you must fit smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors. Test them regularly and keep a log of when you checked them.

Rules for guests: barbecues, campfires and more

Your guests play a huge role in fire safety. Clear rules, communicated well, make a real difference. Think about your policy on:

Put your fire rules in your booking confirmation, on your website, and on signs around the site. Use your guest communication tools to send the rules before arrival. Guests are far more likely to follow rules they have seen before they pitch up.

Creating an emergency plan

You need a simple, clear plan for what happens if a fire breaks out. It does not need to be a thick document. A single page covering the basics is fine:

Practice the plan. Even a quick walkthrough with seasonal staff at the start of the season is better than nothing. And update the plan whenever your site layout changes.

Electrical safety on hookup pitches

Electrical faults are one of the leading causes of campsite fires. If your site offers hookups, keep on top of:

Record all inspections and maintenance. A simple log, either on paper or in your booking system, makes it easy to track what has been done and when.

Keeping records and staying compliant

Good record keeping is the backbone of fire safety compliance. You do not need a filing cabinet full of paperwork, but you do need to be able to show:

If a fire officer visits your site (and they can, at any time), having these records to hand shows that you are taking your responsibilities seriously. It also protects you if an incident leads to an insurance claim or legal action.

A quick fire safety checklist

Pin this somewhere visible in your office or reception:

Fire safety does not have to be overwhelming

It can feel like a lot when you write it all down. But most of this is common sense, and once your systems are in place, maintaining them takes very little time. A monthly walk around the site, an annual service for your extinguishers, and clear communication with your guests will cover most of it.

The goal is not to create a mountain of paperwork. It is to make sure that if something does go wrong, you have done everything reasonable to prevent it and to protect the people on your site. That is good for your guests, good for your insurance, and good for your peace of mind.

If you are still managing your site with a paper diary, consider switching to CampSuite. It helps you keep guest records, pitch layouts, and booking details in one place, making it easier to stay organised and compliant.