Build a Great and Safe Campfire
When
building a campfire, ensure you only use the park
provided fire pit. Most major parks have designated
areas that have been carefully selected for campfire's
and are strictly enforced for safety reasons. If
you are backcountry camping or the park you are
staying at does not have a designated campfire pit,
choose a location that does not have any overhanging
branches. You will then need to dig a shallow hole
in the dirt, surround the pit with medium sized
rocks and clear the surrounding area of dry leaves.
Always keep your tent, food shelter and overhanging
tarps at least 10 feet or three metres away from
the campfire location to avoid sparks from causing
damage.
Many parks sell wood and kindling on - site,
and prefer that you do not gather sticks from
your surrounding campsite. These branches and
logs are a vital part of the park's ecosystem,
so always check with the park office regarding
their policies. It is always a great idea to keep
a bucket of water near the fire to control the
fire if strong winds approach and to completely
extinguish the fire before sleeping or leaving
the campsite. Do not use sand or dirt, as that
will not extinguish the fire, but will actually
leave the coals burning for many hours.
Building the fire:
Great campfires incorporate three parts:
- Tinder: Newspaper/
Fire starting candle or wood shavings
- Kindling: Small wood pieces or sticks
- Fuel: Logs.
The most popular building style is the Teepee
Campfire. Simply place your tinder (crumpled newspaper
or fire starter candle) in the center of the campfire
pit, surround with kindling and logs in a teepee
shape. The other popular building style is the
Crisscross Campfire. Place your tinder in the
center of the campfire pit, and in a crisscross
format, build a layer of kindling. Finish with
a few small logs on top, and simply add more logs
as needed. The crisscross style campfire is easy
to maintain for longer periods, whereas the Teepee
style is better for cooking as it provides a central
and fast burning heat source.
* Always comply with your
campground rules regarding campfire safety.
