S’mores, roasted hotdogs, and good conversations are just a few of the fun things that campfires bring to the outdoor experience. However, campfires can have a high impact on the surrounding ecosystem, especially in high-traffic camping destinations. Consequently, special precautions must be taken to ensure your campfire is enjoyed by all, including the local critters and plants!
Follow local regulations. This goes without saying, but the local authorities make rules for a reason and not just to ruin your fun. Respect them.
Use existing fire pits when available. By doing so, you minimize your impact on the plants that might otherwise live in the space you choose to have your campfire.
Only burn clean or food-soiled paper trash. Remember that anything you burn, you breathe. Never attempt to burn plastic, styrofoam, or metal!
If you are car camping, buy local firewood. Bringing in firewood from home can unintentionally introduce invasive species.
If you are backpacking and need to collect firewood, follow the 4 D’s rule:
Dead: Live wood does not burn well and collecting it harms trees.
Down: Only collect wood that is already on the ground. Dead trees can be important habitats for birds and other animals.
Distant: Collecting wood from further away prevents the areas surrounding your campsite from being stripped of all dead wood, which returns important nutrients to the soil as it decays.
Dinky: Collect wood that is about the size of your arm or smaller. Again, decaying wood is important as habitats and in nutrient cycles.
Completely extinguish your fire. Before you build a fire, make sure you have a strategy to put it out.
Make sure all wood is burned to ash. Larger unburned pieces of wood can hold in heat for much longer.
Flood your fire pit with water until all ashes and embers are covered.
Use a stick to stir the wet ashes making sure the entire pit gets wet. Leave the stick in the fire pit.
Verify that the fire pit is completely cold by hovering your hand over the wet ashes.