10+ Bushcraft & Camping Tips: FIRE
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Date: 2023-06-09
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Comments and reviews: 19
Joel
I was camping in a state campground early in the year once, and had a totally normal fire. I had cleared the dry leaves from around our fire pit, about 5-10 feet, which I thought was sufficient. It had been a dry spring, so the leaves were quite dry, and it was windy.
I turned around from the fire to break up some wood, and turned back, noticed that there was fire under the picnic table which are provided at each of the campsites. I guess that a spark or something had been blown under the picnic table. The fire quickly spread, and got out of control - I would stamp out the fire in one spot, then move to another, and the original spot would flare back up.
Long story short, several fire departments responded. It was bad enough that they had to call a helicopter to dump water on it. Thankfully, the way the wind was blowing, nobody was camping in that direction.
At this point I had no idea what was going to happen, as I didn't know the laws about this; I was preparing myself for possibly going to jail etc. But the rangers talked to me, said the laws about accidental fires in our state were such that I had to pay the costs to extinguish, and that was it.
Of course, after that, the rangers put up a no fires sign for that weekend, and they said that really they should have had them up in the first place, as they recognized that in those conditions it was very easy for fire to spread.
At this point in my life, I didn't have much money, so paying it was tough, but all in all I thought it was very fair. I was very lucky that nobody was hurt, and people's tents, vehicles, etc weren't in weren't damaged.
Do not underestimate how easy it is for fire to get out of control, especially during dry conditions. Things could have very easily turned out far worse for me, and others at the campground too.
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I was camping in a state campground early in the year once, and had a totally normal fire. I had cleared the dry leaves from around our fire pit, about 5-10 feet, which I thought was sufficient. It had been a dry spring, so the leaves were quite dry, and it was windy.
I turned around from the fire to break up some wood, and turned back, noticed that there was fire under the picnic table which are provided at each of the campsites. I guess that a spark or something had been blown under the picnic table. The fire quickly spread, and got out of control - I would stamp out the fire in one spot, then move to another, and the original spot would flare back up.
Long story short, several fire departments responded. It was bad enough that they had to call a helicopter to dump water on it. Thankfully, the way the wind was blowing, nobody was camping in that direction.
At this point I had no idea what was going to happen, as I didn't know the laws about this; I was preparing myself for possibly going to jail etc. But the rangers talked to me, said the laws about accidental fires in our state were such that I had to pay the costs to extinguish, and that was it.
Of course, after that, the rangers put up a no fires sign for that weekend, and they said that really they should have had them up in the first place, as they recognized that in those conditions it was very easy for fire to spread.
At this point in my life, I didn't have much money, so paying it was tough, but all in all I thought it was very fair. I was very lucky that nobody was hurt, and people's tents, vehicles, etc weren't in weren't damaged.
Do not underestimate how easy it is for fire to get out of control, especially during dry conditions. Things could have very easily turned out far worse for me, and others at the campground too.
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Paul
When I was younger I worked at the University I was attending during one of the summers. I was working at the secondary security desk and near the desk was a day care. One day I was working I noticed some smoke and walked outside to see the garbage bin outside the building was on fire. I ran back in and grabbed the fire extinguisher only to find out it was empty. One of the women from the day care saw and came running out with the fire extinguisher they had. While I was trying to get the fire under control she went back in and called the fire department. I controlled but wasn't able to put the fire out but was able to hold it in check until the fire department came and put out the fire. Turns out, someone nearby was having a bbq and after they finished, instead of letting the coals burn out or pour water on them they dumped them in the garbage bin outside the school. Another time in the late evening, close to midnight, someone has lit a bag on fire and tossed it down the garbage chute and it caught the rest of the garbage bin on fire. I wasn't working that night but because we had to evacuate a 20 story building of students I helped out. Thankfully no one was hurt during either instance but fires are nothing to take lightly.
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When I was younger I worked at the University I was attending during one of the summers. I was working at the secondary security desk and near the desk was a day care. One day I was working I noticed some smoke and walked outside to see the garbage bin outside the building was on fire. I ran back in and grabbed the fire extinguisher only to find out it was empty. One of the women from the day care saw and came running out with the fire extinguisher they had. While I was trying to get the fire under control she went back in and called the fire department. I controlled but wasn't able to put the fire out but was able to hold it in check until the fire department came and put out the fire. Turns out, someone nearby was having a bbq and after they finished, instead of letting the coals burn out or pour water on them they dumped them in the garbage bin outside the school. Another time in the late evening, close to midnight, someone has lit a bag on fire and tossed it down the garbage chute and it caught the rest of the garbage bin on fire. I wasn't working that night but because we had to evacuate a 20 story building of students I helped out. Thankfully no one was hurt during either instance but fires are nothing to take lightly.
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Vin
Excellent video. As a retired Firefighter, I can offer a 'few' more safety tips: 1)ALWAYS keep your fire size to a minimum. You don't need a bon fire to boil water or cook over. 2)ALWAYS have a method of extinguishment handy, whether it be water, a fire extinguisher, a pile of dry sand or what have you. And have a plan on what to do if the fire get's out of hand 3)NEVER throw combustible trash in your fire for any reason. The piece of trash may become air-born and start a fire a long distance away 4) at night, never leave a fire unattended. If you have to, put it out and relight it when you need to. 5)NEVER let children play with or near a camp fire. 6)Like Mike said, always clear an area down to the soil, at least 3 times that of your fire. As a rule, I personally clear out 5 feet in each direction and always build a ring out of rock to contain the flames.
The list of safety tips go on and on. But the most important one is just to plain old BE SAFE around and handling a campfire!
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Excellent video. As a retired Firefighter, I can offer a 'few' more safety tips: 1)ALWAYS keep your fire size to a minimum. You don't need a bon fire to boil water or cook over. 2)ALWAYS have a method of extinguishment handy, whether it be water, a fire extinguisher, a pile of dry sand or what have you. And have a plan on what to do if the fire get's out of hand 3)NEVER throw combustible trash in your fire for any reason. The piece of trash may become air-born and start a fire a long distance away 4) at night, never leave a fire unattended. If you have to, put it out and relight it when you need to. 5)NEVER let children play with or near a camp fire. 6)Like Mike said, always clear an area down to the soil, at least 3 times that of your fire. As a rule, I personally clear out 5 feet in each direction and always build a ring out of rock to contain the flames.
The list of safety tips go on and on. But the most important one is just to plain old BE SAFE around and handling a campfire!
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Thomas
Some good tips. thanks.
The bottom line in hot dry weather with a fire risk, ditch the open fire. one will survive to burn another day.
Trangia (and my other alcohol burners). fill the fuel chamber with Glass / Ceramic Wool / Carbon Felt. It does not appreciably affect the burn efficiency but does very much reduce the risk of burning fuel spillage in the event over a 'knockover'. Lights easier and quicker too. especially in Winter.
Hobo / Wood Stove. In / on suspect areas or sensitive surfaces, I put mine into a rectangular 'dixie' (mess tin) or similar, the bottom thereof filled with water. Keep topped up aawr for evaporation. Hot coal spillage and heat transfer downwards then is never an issue.
STH. putting an already lit Trangia into a Firebox Stove with bare hands will one day result in burned hands and burning fuel all over the place. just saying.
Take care.
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Some good tips. thanks.
The bottom line in hot dry weather with a fire risk, ditch the open fire. one will survive to burn another day.
Trangia (and my other alcohol burners). fill the fuel chamber with Glass / Ceramic Wool / Carbon Felt. It does not appreciably affect the burn efficiency but does very much reduce the risk of burning fuel spillage in the event over a 'knockover'. Lights easier and quicker too. especially in Winter.
Hobo / Wood Stove. In / on suspect areas or sensitive surfaces, I put mine into a rectangular 'dixie' (mess tin) or similar, the bottom thereof filled with water. Keep topped up aawr for evaporation. Hot coal spillage and heat transfer downwards then is never an issue.
STH. putting an already lit Trangia into a Firebox Stove with bare hands will one day result in burned hands and burning fuel all over the place. just saying.
Take care.
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NGMonocrom
Rather sad that you even need to make a video like this one. But it is needed. Too many reckless, ignorant individuals go into the woods and cause havoc. My neck of the woods currently has a serious Air Quality Alert because of a certain raging forest fire up in Canada as the fumes are traveling down to us. Yesterday, looking out the window, everything coated in an orange hue. One day, public woods will be closed off to the public. Want to go in, pass a long, thorough test that shows you're not an ignorant clown before being allowed to enter. Get issued a Forest license along with your Hunting license or Fishing license. At this rate, one day, it'll happen. Quite frankly, perhaps it's needed.
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Rather sad that you even need to make a video like this one. But it is needed. Too many reckless, ignorant individuals go into the woods and cause havoc. My neck of the woods currently has a serious Air Quality Alert because of a certain raging forest fire up in Canada as the fumes are traveling down to us. Yesterday, looking out the window, everything coated in an orange hue. One day, public woods will be closed off to the public. Want to go in, pass a long, thorough test that shows you're not an ignorant clown before being allowed to enter. Get issued a Forest license along with your Hunting license or Fishing license. At this rate, one day, it'll happen. Quite frankly, perhaps it's needed.
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Lazarus
FIRE BOWLS CAN BE DANGEROUS TOO!
I once used a fire bowl on a damp forest floor (leaves cleared out) and it well high of the ground and still, due to the heat coming off of the bottom of the bowl, the ground underneath still started to burn, into the ground and spread underground up to a meter away from the bowl! We didn't realise it until we started to see smoke rising from the ground. We had to pour a lot water over it to make it stop. A good tip is to put a layer of sand or even stones, in the bottom of the bowl first, to stop the heat going downwards.
It is good for people to understand the dangers of fire in the woods, so thank you for sharing your video!
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FIRE BOWLS CAN BE DANGEROUS TOO!
I once used a fire bowl on a damp forest floor (leaves cleared out) and it well high of the ground and still, due to the heat coming off of the bottom of the bowl, the ground underneath still started to burn, into the ground and spread underground up to a meter away from the bowl! We didn't realise it until we started to see smoke rising from the ground. We had to pour a lot water over it to make it stop. A good tip is to put a layer of sand or even stones, in the bottom of the bowl first, to stop the heat going downwards.
It is good for people to understand the dangers of fire in the woods, so thank you for sharing your video!
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Lynn
In Canada fires are out of control. In Alberta a bunch of idiots tried to perform a back burn. It didn't work.
The biggest issue is Provincial Governments are not performing maintenance in the forest like what was once done decades ago.
Cleaning up dead fuel sources on the ground. Removing dead standing trees and creating fire breaks. Governments are also trying to prevent farmers and homeowners from proactively protecting their property. There is also talk the arial chem trail spraying remnants are flammable.
The inmates are running the asylum in Canada. It is completely f ked.
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In Canada fires are out of control. In Alberta a bunch of idiots tried to perform a back burn. It didn't work.
The biggest issue is Provincial Governments are not performing maintenance in the forest like what was once done decades ago.
Cleaning up dead fuel sources on the ground. Removing dead standing trees and creating fire breaks. Governments are also trying to prevent farmers and homeowners from proactively protecting their property. There is also talk the arial chem trail spraying remnants are flammable.
The inmates are running the asylum in Canada. It is completely f ked.
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J_Squatch
I was in Boy Scouts and growing up in the desert we took fire safety very seriously. We'd rake 20 feet in every direction from the fire and had two 5 gallon buckets for extinguishing fires, one full of water and the other of sand. Sand would suffocate flames and water would extinguish coals. If we went to a forest in the mountains, we'd be wary of the conditions there and quite often would not have fires. Almost all our cooking was done with propane camping stoves. Fire pits at establish camp grounds had mesh/expanded steel lids to keep the sparks in.
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I was in Boy Scouts and growing up in the desert we took fire safety very seriously. We'd rake 20 feet in every direction from the fire and had two 5 gallon buckets for extinguishing fires, one full of water and the other of sand. Sand would suffocate flames and water would extinguish coals. If we went to a forest in the mountains, we'd be wary of the conditions there and quite often would not have fires. Almost all our cooking was done with propane camping stoves. Fire pits at establish camp grounds had mesh/expanded steel lids to keep the sparks in.
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Sue
Glad you've made this vid, Mike. Just one thing; could we have a vid at some point on what cold food you can bring that isn't overly processed, because processed food is bad for you. The only things I rely on is stuff that will last like carton milk, which I try to keep in a cool water source (nearby stream that's sheltered etc) and precooked canned goods that you can eat without heating that have been precooled in a similar water source - like peas, carrots, potatoes, beans etc. I eat beans for protein rather than having processed meat such as ham etc.
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Glad you've made this vid, Mike. Just one thing; could we have a vid at some point on what cold food you can bring that isn't overly processed, because processed food is bad for you. The only things I rely on is stuff that will last like carton milk, which I try to keep in a cool water source (nearby stream that's sheltered etc) and precooked canned goods that you can eat without heating that have been precooled in a similar water source - like peas, carrots, potatoes, beans etc. I eat beans for protein rather than having processed meat such as ham etc.
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Masked
my tip.
I've made and sustained fires before (gardener/landscaper) something I see people do/react to a fire is when its dying/died out. Oh the fire went out so I left it and sometimes when I went back to check on the fire, it came back to life sometimes to full big flames. If you think your fire died out and you don't want to restart it or aren't planning on restarting it. MAKE CERTAIN THAT IT STAYS OUT! This is one way how human built fires cause quote unquote wild fires and emergencies in general.
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my tip.
I've made and sustained fires before (gardener/landscaper) something I see people do/react to a fire is when its dying/died out. Oh the fire went out so I left it and sometimes when I went back to check on the fire, it came back to life sometimes to full big flames. If you think your fire died out and you don't want to restart it or aren't planning on restarting it. MAKE CERTAIN THAT IT STAYS OUT! This is one way how human built fires cause quote unquote wild fires and emergencies in general.
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Fredrik
Great stuff! Thank you for raising this subject.
I think we need highlight that 1) it's OK to be new to something. To light a fire can be hard, but even harder to do it right. Stay curious! 2) You don't need to be an idiot to cause a forrest fire. It's like driving a car, and it's tempting to say it will be fine if you've done it a thousand times before. Pay attention and don't get sloppy!
Addition: don't light a fire at stone floor (for example near a lake. It can crack and damage the stone.
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Great stuff! Thank you for raising this subject.
I think we need highlight that 1) it's OK to be new to something. To light a fire can be hard, but even harder to do it right. Stay curious! 2) You don't need to be an idiot to cause a forrest fire. It's like driving a car, and it's tempting to say it will be fine if you've done it a thousand times before. Pay attention and don't get sloppy!
Addition: don't light a fire at stone floor (for example near a lake. It can crack and damage the stone.
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LifesaHobby
Fires are very 1992. . But some people need them.
In the states they have proper facilities. Its easy blame people when in reality the lack of facilities is to blame.
If you get any sort of ember onto the ground in a dry pine forest it will go up like petrol. Any sort of open flame will ignite a pine forest in an instant.
You say theres no chance of setting fire with the steel bowl, realistically in summer fires are a bad idea without it being contained in a huge steel fire pit.
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Fires are very 1992. . But some people need them.
In the states they have proper facilities. Its easy blame people when in reality the lack of facilities is to blame.
If you get any sort of ember onto the ground in a dry pine forest it will go up like petrol. Any sort of open flame will ignite a pine forest in an instant.
You say theres no chance of setting fire with the steel bowl, realistically in summer fires are a bad idea without it being contained in a huge steel fire pit.
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Bean
When I'm trying to light a fire none of that tinder would go up! But mother nature has knowledge and patience far greater than me, and your right Mike, it'll ignite. Just gotta look across the pond at the moment. Whilst some fire regeneration is probably still part of natures way, we can't afford to lose any woodland or forest areas, theres hardly any left! Glad you did this and glad you're able to reach to a huge audience even if we 'know it' already.
Can't do any harm can it!
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When I'm trying to light a fire none of that tinder would go up! But mother nature has knowledge and patience far greater than me, and your right Mike, it'll ignite. Just gotta look across the pond at the moment. Whilst some fire regeneration is probably still part of natures way, we can't afford to lose any woodland or forest areas, theres hardly any left! Glad you did this and glad you're able to reach to a huge audience even if we 'know it' already.
Can't do any harm can it!
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C.
Thank you for this video.
Until last year, I lived in a small city in the southwestern USA that was surrounded by national forest. Every fire season brought hordes of semi-experienced campers from all over. The forest service inevitably found hundreds of abandoned fire pits each holiday weekend. We lived in fear of wildfires, and campers frequently proved us right.
As climate change dries out more places, messages like yours are important. I appreciate you doing this.
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Thank you for this video.
Until last year, I lived in a small city in the southwestern USA that was surrounded by national forest. Every fire season brought hordes of semi-experienced campers from all over. The forest service inevitably found hundreds of abandoned fire pits each holiday weekend. We lived in fear of wildfires, and campers frequently proved us right.
As climate change dries out more places, messages like yours are important. I appreciate you doing this.
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Jason
Washington state (USA) just had a fire start 5 days ago in a maintained campground. Someone did something foolish (we don't yet know what) but a tree was engulfed fairly quickly and spread to 8 acres. It is contained now, but they are still working to make sure it stays out. I don't know what to make of some folks. The last time I went to a small waterfall an hour from home, litter was scattered everywhere. Thank you for making a difference through educating people.
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Washington state (USA) just had a fire start 5 days ago in a maintained campground. Someone did something foolish (we don't yet know what) but a tree was engulfed fairly quickly and spread to 8 acres. It is contained now, but they are still working to make sure it stays out. I don't know what to make of some folks. The last time I went to a small waterfall an hour from home, litter was scattered everywhere. Thank you for making a difference through educating people.
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Jerry
In our area we have high vegetable rich muck (a type of peat) that can be 20 to 30 feet deep. The surface can look fire safe. If you build a fire on it, the fire can move down into the muck and burns for years. We had a small fire that took us slightly over a month to put out. To do it we had to dig a very deep trench around the fire area and fill the trench with water and keep it filled while flooding the fire area with water. Finally the fire was declared out.
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In our area we have high vegetable rich muck (a type of peat) that can be 20 to 30 feet deep. The surface can look fire safe. If you build a fire on it, the fire can move down into the muck and burns for years. We had a small fire that took us slightly over a month to put out. To do it we had to dig a very deep trench around the fire area and fill the trench with water and keep it filled while flooding the fire area with water. Finally the fire was declared out.
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Brian
You dont have to be camping to start a forest fire. A lit cigarette thrown out a window can start a fire. In the American Southwest, trailer chains brushing against the road ( a caravan in the UK) will create sparks potent enough to start a brush fire. Any spark or ember, from unlikely sources will create a fire.
By the way, the fire bowl you demonstrated is manufactured by: Grilliput and you can order a matching grrill to go with it.
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You dont have to be camping to start a forest fire. A lit cigarette thrown out a window can start a fire. In the American Southwest, trailer chains brushing against the road ( a caravan in the UK) will create sparks potent enough to start a brush fire. Any spark or ember, from unlikely sources will create a fire.
By the way, the fire bowl you demonstrated is manufactured by: Grilliput and you can order a matching grrill to go with it.
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Maxbroforce
This is so very important!
Dealing with a lot of the smoke from the forest fires here in Canada and I heard someone even got charged in my town yesterday for lighting a fire despite the current fire ban and extreme fire risk warning. So important to practise fire safety and pay attention to the bans. Thank you for spreading proper fire safety skills. Far too many people don't realize the risks.
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This is so very important!
Dealing with a lot of the smoke from the forest fires here in Canada and I heard someone even got charged in my town yesterday for lighting a fire despite the current fire ban and extreme fire risk warning. So important to practise fire safety and pay attention to the bans. Thank you for spreading proper fire safety skills. Far too many people don't realize the risks.
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travel
Was driving through the Yorkshire dales national park while working today, noticed an inviting looking forest had a quick stroll through and all I could see was baby wipes soiled toilet paper beer cans and new young trees cut in half old established roots that are just above ground some t t had also tried to set fire to them the list goes on and on. Some people go out their way to damage nature
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Was driving through the Yorkshire dales national park while working today, noticed an inviting looking forest had a quick stroll through and all I could see was baby wipes soiled toilet paper beer cans and new young trees cut in half old established roots that are just above ground some t t had also tried to set fire to them the list goes on and on. Some people go out their way to damage nature
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