Before you build a campfire: check and prepare

Before you build a campfire: check and prepare

• Know the rules: Always check campground or land-manager regulations. Some areas have seasonal or daily burn bans—if fires are prohibited, do not build one.
• Pick the right spot: Use an existing fire ring or pit when available. If there isn’t one, choose a cleared, level area at least 10 feet from tents, shrubs, trees, and overhead branches.
• Gather safe fuel: Use local dead-and-down wood. Do not cut live branches. Bring a small supply of tinder (small dry sticks, bark) and starter material rather than felling anything.
• Have safety tools ready: A shovel, a bucket (filled with water before you start), and a container of water or a water bottle are essential. For extra safety, bring a small fire extinguisher if you have one.

How to build a safe campfire

1. Clear the area: Remove leaves, sticks, and duff in a 3–5 foot radius around the fire pit down to bare soil.
2. Create a ring: If no metal pit exists, surround the fire with rocks (use only those already on site). Keep the ring low and stable.
3. Start small: Build a small tinder bundle, then a teepee or log-cabin structure of small kindling. A small, well-tended fire is safer and easier to extinguish than a large one.
4. Keep it manageable: Limit the fire size to what you need—no higher than waist level and not so wide it threatens to spread.
5. Supervise always: Never leave a fire unattended. Assign a responsible adult to watch the fire at all times (including during late-night quiet times).

Tending your fire — do’s and don’ts