If it’s legal and appropriate to have a campfire, please keep it small. Do not build new fire rings or have a fire in a location that has not previously had one. It’s imperative that you fully extinguish your campfire before you go to bed. Many forest fires have been started by backpacker’s campfires. Your fire must be doused with water and be cold to the touch before you leave it unattended. You may be held liable for the cost of fighting a fire that you started.

Hey, DON’T start a wildfire

Commit to this: drown all fires with water. Dump a ton of water on it. Stir. Make sure all those coals are soaking wet. Stick your hand in the fire pit and feel it. If it’s still hot, use more water. This is the only responsible way. Before you start a campfire, think about whether it’s a safe place and time to have one. How windy is it? Is there a large area of bare ground, or is the area covered in dry leaves or pine needles? Are there low hanging tree branches? Bushes nearby? If you’re not within reach of a water source, don’t have a fire. You need gallons of water to put out a fire and many more if your fire starts burning the bush nearby. Don’t have a fire without a large supply of water. Your water bottle isn’t enough – and you’ll need that to drink anyway. Do you smoke? Make sure you’re putting your smokes out on rock or bare dirt. Not on trees. Also, don’t smoke while walking. Remarkably, it’s often banned because it’s just far too easy to drop some ash on nearby grass. Take a break and sit in a bare ground area instead.

Safer campfire practices

Remember, be sure that it's legal and appropriate to have a fire at that location at that moment in time before moving forward. If it's okay to have a fire, please be safe and low impact. Prepare your site – Find a level spot away from overhanging branches, brush, or dry grass. Keep away from the base of a hill. Escaped fires travel uphill fast. With a shovel, clear a circle 10 feet wide down to bare dirt. Hollow out a fire pit 6 inches deep and 2 feet across at the center of the cleared circle. Pile the dirt around the fire pit. Keep your fire small. Use existing fire rings where available to reduce the number of disturbed areas and damage to soil cover and vegetation. Beware of the duff – Duff is the layer of decomposing wood material that lies on the forest floor between pine needles and bare dirt. Many times, it may look like dirt, but it isn’t. Duff burns, dirt doesn’t. It allows even the smallest ember to smolder for days, underground and unnoticed until enough heat is built up to produce flames. Don’t let the duff fool you. Attend your fire – Never leave your campfire unattended, even for a few minutes or if you take a nap. Drown the fire – Drown your campfire 1/2 hour before you break camp. Use your shovel to separate the burning pieces of wood in the fire pit. Stir and mix – Stir and mix water with the ashes until the fire is out. Don’t try to bury the fire under dirt, it can smolder for hours and then escape. Drown briquettes – Charcoal briquettes should be extinguished by dumping them into a pail of water, mixing thoroughly, and then place them back into the fire pit. Feel the ashes – Feel the ashes to be sure the fire is out. Before you leave the campsite, check the area within 50 feet of the fire for sparks or embers that may have escaped. Come prepared – Obtain your campfire permit if needed, bring your shovel, and a pail for water. Photo by Justin McCormick