Campfire Management. Containment and Fire Control is of the Utmost Importance.

Campfire management ensures your hot toasty campfire is an enjoyable experience, especially in the cooler months of spring and fall and for hearty campers, winter. Ensuring your campfire is safely contained and controlled is of utmost importance, especially in locations with dry conditions where a wind driven ember can ignite grass, brush, or forest surroundings.

Practicing campfire management involves selecting the right spot for your campfire. When camping at a campground, always use the campsite fire pit. If no fire pit is available, choose a location that is at least ten feet away from tents, trees, and other combustible or flammable materials. Clear the area of dry leaves, grass, and twigs to create a safety zone around your fire pit. If stones or other non-flammable materials are available build your own fire pit. You can also create a ground depression or use logs to build a fire pit. Just remember to fully extinguish all combustible materials afterwards.

Campfire Management – How to Build and Maintain a Campfire

When building your fire, start with tinder such as dry leaves or grass, followed by kindling like small sticks. Arrange your firewood in a teepee or log cabin style for better airflow. Avoid using flammable liquids to ignite your fire. Always keep a bucket of water, dirt/sand, or even a fire extinguisher nearby, and never leave the fire unattended. When using a fire ring, elevate the front of the ring to support consistent air intake.

Checking Regulations and Weather

Before starting your campfire, check local regulations and fire bans, especially in the dry season. Remember a dry season is not dictated by air temperature but by the lack of moisture in vegetation. Be aware of weather conditions, as wind can spread embers and increase the risk of a wildfire. Consider creating a wind block around your fire pit to control wind-driven embers. If possible, check the weather forecast before starting a fire to ensure changing conditions do not create unsafe burning conditions.

Extinguishing the Fire is an Essential Campfire Management Practice

To fully extinguish your fire, pour water over it until the hissing sound stops. Stir the ashes and embers with a shovel, add more water, and stir again until everything is cold to the touch. Make sure no embers are still glowing. Always ensure the fire is completely extinguished before “calling it a day” or leaving the campsite.

Essential Camping Gear: Shake Light 40-B Rechargeable Flashlight

The Shake Light 40-B Magnetic Induction Flashlight by EcoCentricNow is an essential flashlight for camping, backpacking, and hunting trips. This compact, zero-maintenance Faraday flashlight projects a beam over 35 feet and is ideal for home, vehicles, and all types of outdoor recreation. Since 2007, Shake Light 40-B has been an essential emergency preparedness flashlight, and is also used by STEM educators to teach renewable energy concepts.

For added convenience, purchase the Light Finder Glow-N-Dark wall mount for easy location in the dark. This no maintenance flashlight ensures you’re always prepared, especially when tending to campfire control after dark.

Resources

7 important tips for creating a safe campfire
Campfire Safety