Won't go to bed with fire

[tentmom]

I have a couple of friends that will not go to bed at night when camping if there is a fire in the fire pit. I guess I’m not too worried about this if it’s a small fire and it’s contained in the pit. What are your thoughts on this? I’m sure it’s safer to have the fire completely out but we all go to bed at different times so more than likely the fire is still going.

[Bud]

There are ways to "bank" a campfire so that if you are sleeping next to the fire, it will burn very slowly and emit enough heat to keep you warm, but there are no open flames involved.

[jloomis]

Campfire safety often depends on the conditions. Windy dry conditions can cause problems whereas damp non-windy conditions are relatively safe. I often go to bed with the fire still going and never have a problem. Granted I do not leave a raging fire unattended.

[Gondor]

I never put out the fire but I always build walls out of stones around it just to make sure nothing comes flying into my tent during the night.

[jason]

If conditions are good, I will let it die out on its own if just embers and no flames. However, there are many of times we are not even allowed to have a fire, let alone go to bed with anything still hot.

[Grandpa]

Because we are usually in bear country we use the triangle campsite. Fire and eating area at one point, tent at another point and food sacks hanging at the third point, all as far away from each other as possible.(within reason of course)

If an existing fire ring meets our safty criteria we have a fire, if not we don't. It has to be far enough away from any combustible material from a stray spark and far enough away from water that the phosphates in the ash don't leach. Then, if there is no significant wind, we let it burn itself out. Before leaving we soak with water, then stir thoroughly while looking for any trash remnants then wet again.

Several areas in the west are having problems with the phosphate levels from soap and ashes changing the pH of the water which adversely affects the fishery in the lakes and streams. The High Uinta wilderness in Utah now requires fires to be at least a 1/4 mile from water because of this problem.

[Refrigerator]

Originally Posted by Grandpa

Because we are usually in bear country we use the triangle campsite. Fire and eating area at one point, tent at another point and food sacks hanging at the third point, all as far away from each other as possible.(within reason of course)

If an existing fire ring meets our safty criteria we have a fire, if not we don't. It has to be far enough away from any combustible material from a stray spark and far enough away from water that the phosphates in the ash don't leach. Then, if there is no significant wind, we let it burn itself out. Before leaving we soak with water, then stir thoroughly while looking for any trash remnants then wet again.

Several areas in the west are having problems with the phosphate levels from soap and ashes changing the pH of the water which adversely affects the fishery in the lakes and streams. The High Uinta wilderness in Utah now requires fires to be at least a 1/4 mile from water because of this problem.

I didn't know about the phosphate levels Grandpa Looking for more info now. Thanks for the post.

[overtheridge]

Most times we let the fire die right down before we head to bed. A lot of times the kids will go in to the camper or their tents and then us parents will stay out and sit around the campfire while it dies down. Sometimes it's just the men that sit around for hours and hours and we (women) head to bed.

[dinosaur]

Common sense pretty much covers you for these problems. If someone tells me that a campfire is going to damage the wildlife, kill off the fishery, eliminate the deer population, wipe out the buffalo or some other such nonsense, I'm going to be skeptical. Campfires in North America, according to the most recent findings, have been prevalent for 11,500 years. My bet is it was a lot longer, we just can't prove it yet.

I'm still going to have campfires. Anyone who wants to debate their viability can talk to me. Say what you want. I'm listening.

[ChadTower]

Originally Posted by dinosaur

I'm still going to have campfires. Anyone who wants to debate their viability can talk to me. Say what you want. I'm listening.

Yeah, considering everything else that gets dumped into the water supply at various points, campfire byproduct isn't going to change anything.