# Camping with a fire ban in place **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 19, 2012, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/camping-with-a-fire-ban-in-place/628781 "2012-07-19T22:00:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![drewtwo99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d07c76/32.png) [@drewtwo99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewtwo99)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2012, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/camping-with-a-fire-ban-in-place/628781/21 "2012-07-20T21:02:23Z")
Very used to it, and it’s plenty of fun. I love going hiking around at night. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2012, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/camping-with-a-fire-ban-in-place/628781/22 "2012-07-20T21:03:23Z")
> [@phreesh](#): > > You cause more environmental damage driving to your remote campsite than burning a small fire for a couple of days. > > If you want everyone to leave no trace, parks should prevent humans from entering and camping. Is this an argument? That just because people engage in an activity that causes X amount of environmental damage, Katie bar the door and go ahead and engage in all the \ **Author:** ![Tastes\_of\_Chocolate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tastes_of_chocolate/32/3232_2.png) [@Tastes\_of\_Chocolate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tastes_of_Chocolate)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2012, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/camping-with-a-fire-ban-in-place/628781/23 "2012-07-20T21:13:48Z") > [@Gatopescado](#): > > Now excuse me while I retreat to my 39’ D Pusher with triple slide-outs, washer/dryer, granite counters, glove-leather sofa/chairs, wine celler (so to speak), dish TV, king-sized bed (walk-a-round) and sound that makes \*The Decemberists \*have wet-dreams. We car camp with family a couple times a year. There is one aunt and uncle (in their 70s) who bring a camper (HA!) that just about fits this description. Our favorite campgrounds is a primative camp ground. No electricity, no running water, outhouses. Everyone just plans on being stinky. One evening, the aunt asks everyone “Do you mind if we run the generator for a bit, so I can vacuum?” There were no more s’mores that camping trip, as she was pelted by all the marshmellows. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2012, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/camping-with-a-fire-ban-in-place/628781/24 "2012-07-20T21:51:18Z")
I do not like campfires, and when I go backpacking, don’t have one. I have lanterns and flashlights for when I need to move around in the dark. ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2012, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/camping-with-a-fire-ban-in-place/628781/25 "2012-07-20T22:19:15Z")
I’ve done it. It really sounds more of a bummer then it really is but it does seem to timeshift you to get up earlier and go to bed sooner. Also using a gas lantern helps fill in the lack of the campfire. ---
**Author:** ![ZenBeam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/3ab097/32.png) [@ZenBeam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZenBeam)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2012, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/camping-with-a-fire-ban-in-place/628781/26 "2012-07-21T01:21:08Z")
> [@Ibanez](#): > > I’ve never prayed for rain so hard in my life. I’m headed off to Algonquin park mid next week for a one week back country canoe camping trip. A 24/7 full fire ban is currently in effect. I check the weather forecast for the area for next week, and very little rain. Food isn’t the problem, bringing dehydrated meals. > > Camping without a campfire just seems like sitting in the dark to me, swatting away mosquitos. Real bummer. > > Any dopers ever camp with a fire ban in place ? What did ya do ? How was it ? A number of years ago, my sister went camping for a week when there was a fire ban in place. It rained most of the week she was there, but the fire ban remained. You may want to rethink praying for rain. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2012, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/camping-with-a-fire-ban-in-place/628781/27 "2012-07-21T01:30:01Z")
Speaking of fires in Algonquin Park, I drove through the smell, and witnessed the plume from [this](http://www.thedailyobserver.ca/2012/07/20/forest-fire-burns-at-cfb-petawawa) fire today. And this is why there’s a fire ban. Are you planning on going to the eastern part, 'cause your plans may be scuttled. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2012, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/camping-with-a-fire-ban-in-place/628781/28 "2012-07-21T03:52:12Z")
> [@Munch](#): > > Count me in as one of the people who dislike campfires when backpacking. It’s a huge time sink, the gear for it is a waste of space… The gear? For campfires? And if time is of the essence while camping, you’re doing it wrong. ---
**Author:** ![drastic\_quench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e36b37/32.png) [@drastic\_quench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drastic_quench)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2012, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/camping-with-a-fire-ban-in-place/628781/29 "2012-07-21T04:50:13Z")
Well, camping and backpacking are different animals. I enjoy both. When I’m backpacking, I only ever have a small cook fire in my [wood burning stove](http://www.trailstove.com/). I’ve used MSR stoves lots, but I don’t like carrying and rationing fuel. If I’m hiking through a fire ban area, I go without, and eat food that doesn’t require a boil. Or, if some serious rain falls, I’ll use my good judgement and go ahead and break the ban. I’m talking about a contained wood fire make up of five or six sticks about finger thick. I only have an actual campfire while backpacking during a zero day. I’ve never camped in a fire ban area. I think I’d take a big Coleman stove and call it an early night. I do like an oversized fire when camping at a campground. I’ll even buy firewood. ---
**Author:** ![Ibanez](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/a4c791/32.png) [@Ibanez](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ibanez)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2012, 10:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/camping-with-a-fire-ban-in-place/628781/30 "2012-07-21T10:00:30Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > Speaking of fires in Algonquin Park, I drove through the smell, and witnessed the plume from [this](http://www.thedailyobserver.ca/2012/07/20/forest-fire-burns-at-cfb-petawawa) fire today. > > And this is why there’s a fire ban. Are you planning on going to the eastern part, 'cause your plans may be scuttled. Yeah I saw the news this morning. I’m a real sad kitty because that’s exactly where were launching off from. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2012, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/camping-with-a-fire-ban-in-place/628781/31 "2012-07-21T15:35:20Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > The gear? For campfires? > > And if time is of the essence while camping, you’re doing it wrong. This stood out to me too. I would rather carry a lighter or two and some matches then a stove and fuel. Anyway, you always HAVE to carry some means to make a fire when camping/Backpacking. It’s easy to use some cord and three sticks to create a tripod to hang a billy pot over a small fire. And time? A fire takes too much time? We all have our differnt likes and dislikes, which is great. For myself, a stove has always been a big pain and is used as a back up to keep water hot. ---
**Author:** ![N9IWP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/n9iwp/32/3154_2.png) [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2012, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/camping-with-a-fire-ban-in-place/628781/32 "2012-07-21T16:24:33Z")
Camp fires are one of my favorites while camping (I mostly car camp with a tent, but have done some bicycle camping\*). I suppose I could live without a camp fire. Not having a stove either would really suck, because camp cooking is also a favorite. Brian - twice when I bough firewood while bicycle camping the ranger offered to deliver it 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Ibanez](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/a4c791/32.png) [@Ibanez](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ibanez)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2012, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/camping-with-a-fire-ban-in-place/628781/33 "2012-07-21T21:26:30Z")
> [@Munch](#): > > Count me in as one of the people who dislike campfires when backpacking. It’s a huge time sink, the gear for it is a waste of space, it’s disturbing to the environment and ecosystem, and extremely messy to clean up (you are cleaning it up, right?). Just enjoy the stars and the ambient sounds. Besides making sure the fire is out ,no I’m not. What’s the process of cleaning up after a fire ? Is it soaking the pit with water and spreading the ashes in the woods some where. I know it’s unlikely to happen, but I’d be worried about some rogue ember I didn’t get that flares up after I leave. ---
**Author:** ![PlainJain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5daacb/32.png) [@PlainJain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PlainJain)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2012, 6:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/camping-with-a-fire-ban-in-place/628781/34 "2012-07-22T06:19:00Z")
I generally prefer to use a [lantern](http://www.backcountrygear.com/camping-and-hiking/lighting/lanterns/black-diamond-orbit.html) for light rather than a fire although I sometimes build a small ‘squaw’ fire. [Good fire clean-up](http://www.leavenotracedude.com/minimize-campfire-impact.shtml): \*Clean up after the fire: Scatter unused wood as naturally as possible. Push unburned ends of wood into the fire as it burns down so it is all consumed. When the coals have burned to ash, soak well with water and make sure it is completely out. Use water rather than dirt to put out the fire. Collect the cold ash and scatter it over a large area well away from the camp site. \* If you can’t get into the no-fire spirit, take more vodka. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Ibanez](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/a4c791/32.png) [@Ibanez](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ibanez)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2012, 8:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/camping-with-a-fire-ban-in-place/628781/35 "2012-07-22T08:57:39Z")
> [@PlainJain](#): > > [Good fire clean-up](http://www.leavenotracedude.com/minimize-campfire-impact.shtml): > \*Clean up after the fire: > Scatter unused wood as naturally as possible. > Push unburned ends of wood into the fire as it burns down so it is all consumed. > When the coals have burned to ash, soak well with water and make sure it is completely out. Use water rather than dirt to put out the fire. > Collect the cold ash and scatter it over a large area well away from the camp site. > \* If I’m at an impacted campsite, that other people **will** eventually visit. What’s the point of hiding the wood that I haven’t burned from future campers. There’s no way in hell I’m scattering ashes from a fire that “burned” out less than 12 hours ago in the woods, that I’ve soaked with water. I like to ensure that the chance of me starting a forest fire stays at zero. I’ve come across sites where I’ve cleaned out a cold fire pit because it’s packed full of ashes and it impedes the air flow that affects the fire. But that’s the only reason I see why to clean out a fire pit. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2012, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/camping-with-a-fire-ban-in-place/628781/36 "2012-07-22T20:41:36Z")
> [@enipla](#): > > And time? A fire takes too much time? Yeah - searching for firewood takes a tremendous amount of time once you’ve set up camp and are getting ready to eat. And while you _might_ be in an area with decent firewood - it’s not always a given (especially if more and more people build campfires). Digging around in the brush after I’ve set up camp is one of the last things I’d want to be doing - and not just because that’s when I want to relax, but because I should just leave the brush undisturbed. > [@Ibanez](#): > > Besides making sure the fire is out ,no I’m not. What’s the process of cleaning up after a fire ? Is it soaking the pit with water and spreading the ashes in the woods some where. I know it’s unlikely to happen, but I’d be worried about some rogue ember I didn’t get that flares up after I leave. Yeah - that’s pretty much it. And if you’re too worried about a rogue ember, you need to be spending more time making sure the firepit you’re about to abandon is free of that, even \*if \*you’re not going to clean it up. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2012, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/camping-with-a-fire-ban-in-place/628781/37 "2012-07-23T13:46:47Z")
> [@Munch](#): > > Yeah - searching for firewood takes a tremendous amount of time once you’ve set up camp and are getting ready to eat. And while you _might_ be in an area with decent firewood - it’s not always a given (especially if more and more people build campfires). Digging around in the brush after I’ve set up camp is one of the last things I’d want to be doing - and not just because that’s when I want to relax, but because I should just leave the brush undisturbed. It’s pretty clear that we camp in VERY different types of areas. I might spend 10-15 minutes getting the inital fire wood and scouting out where I can get more as the night go on. Or maybe you think that’s too much time. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2012, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/camping-with-a-fire-ban-in-place/628781/38 "2012-07-23T14:21:42Z")
> [@enipla](#): > > It’s pretty clear that we camp in VERY different types of areas. I might spend 10-15 minutes getting the inital fire wood and scouting out where I can get more as the night go on. Or maybe you think that’s too much time. No chance of being able to gather enough wood for a fire in 10-15 minutes in most of the places I camp. These areas get too much use on a regular basis for there to be any easily scavangeable wood that close, and you’re not allowed to cut anything standing (living or dead). I can have water boiled with my stove in 3-4 minutes and cleanup is just about as quick. ---
**Author:** ![amarinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3be4f8/32.png) [@amarinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarinth)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2012, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/camping-with-a-fire-ban-in-place/628781/39 "2012-07-23T18:46:30Z")
> [@billfish678](#): > > Anyhow, there is a total fire ban. Not even camp stoves or lanterns are allowed. How do you cook with no fire at all? I like campfires. It’s one of the benefits of camping, you get to go outside and light a fire. ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2012, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/camping-with-a-fire-ban-in-place/628781/40 "2012-07-23T18:58:25Z")
> [@amarinth](#): > > How do you cook with no fire at all? > . You don’t. You eat cold canned soup and junk food. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/camping-with-a-fire-ban-in-place/628781.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/camping-with-a-fire-ban-in-place/628781.md?page=3)