Campfire Safety

Elisabeth Brentano worked in partnership with Visit Idaho to create this Travel Tip.

Whether you’re backpacking, camping in one of Idaho’s stunning State Park campgrounds or renting a cabin, enjoying the warmth of a crackling campfire is one of the best ways to end the day’s adventures. Summer is peak time for outdoor recreation in Idaho, and it also marks the height of wildfire season. It is crucial to recognize the responsibilities of having a campfire, including the best practices for building, maintaining, and extinguishing your fire. Understanding the basics of campfire safety helps keep you and others from harm — and it helps prevent wildfires. 

“Nine out of ten wildfires are started by people, and could be prevented,” says Samantha Storms, External Affairs Division Chief for the Bureau of Land Management at the National Interagency Fire Center. “Campfires, fireworks, firearms, and even vehicles are all examples of things that can cause accidental fire starts. You can avoid being part of the problem by putting your campfire all the way out cold before you go to bed or leave the area, and doing your research on local fire restrictions and advisories,” Storms reminds. 

Whether you’re a seasoned outdoorsman or a first-time visitor, these tips will ensure a safe and enjoyable outdoor adventure in Idaho.

Check Fire Restrictions and Weather

Fire season in the Mountain West runs from June through September, with the peak in July and August. Dry conditions, lightning strikes and hotter temperatures are contributing factors, and campfire restrictions and burn bans are implemented each summer. Before your trip, check for updates on fire restrictions, and take note of any signage posted in recreation areas. The Idaho Department of Lands maintains a website with an interactive map of restrictions across the state, and you can also contact regional U.S. Forest Service (USFS) ranger stations, local Bureau of Land Management (BLM) offices, Idaho State Parks, or other public lands managers for more information. One of the top resources for monitoring wildfires in the United States is InciWeb, and apps that provide alerts on wildfires include FireSpot and WatchDuty.

When there are no restrictions, campfires and stoves are permitted in both dispersed and developed sites. Stage 1 fire restrictions prohibit fires and stoves in dispersed sites, but allow them in developed campgrounds, picnic areas and on private land. Stage 2 fire restrictions prohibit all campfires and use of camp stoves by the public, except those on private property, so long as the fire is within the residence.

What Is a Dispersed Campsite vs. a Developed Campsite?

Dispersed sites are considered established but primitive backcountry sites managed by USFS and the BLM, and they generally have rock fire rings. Developed camping areas include state and federally-managed campgrounds with metal fire rings or picnic areas with grills.

Even when there are no fire restrictions, weather is an important factor when deciding to have a campfire. If it’s a hot, windy day and the fire danger in the area is high, consider skipping a campfire, as gusty winds can cause sparks to fly and ignite vegetation near your campsite.

Purchase or Collect Wood Locally

Purchasing campfire wood locally is a critical practice for preserving the health of forests and ecosystems. Transporting firewood from one area to another can spread diseases and invasive pests, which can harm native trees and plants. Buying firewood close to camp also helps support local businesses, especially in rural communities that depend heavily on seasonal tourism.

Per the Idaho Department of Lands, it is recommended to use wood that is cut or gathered less than 50 miles from where you plan to have a campfire. If gathering wood, select only dead and downed branches, as dead standing trees, or “snags,” are often homes for birds and other wildlife, per USFS. Finally, if you are not camping locally, don’t bring wood home with you; instead, consider leaving it at camp.
The one exception is firewood certified by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) as heat-treated to kill pests, which is safe to transport long distances. USDA-certified heat-treated wood has a seal on the packaging, and it is not the same as kiln-dried wood.

Burn in Designated, Cleared Areas

Always burn campfires in designated areas, utilizing metal rings and existing rock rings, rather than constructing new ones. Before lighting a fire, make sure the surrounding space is clear by at least 10 feet of brush and other flammable material including logs, downed branches, high grass, dead leaves, tents, blankets and chairs. Keep firewood stacked upwind and away from the fire, and keep a jug or bucket of water near your fire, along with a shovel.

Another option? Consider bringing a portable metal fire container or fire pan on your next camping trip. Metal fire containers help minimize the impact on the landscape, and they are often smaller and thus easier to manage. Some regions in Idaho, including the Sawtooth Wilderness, do not allow ground fires, so backcountry campers are required to use a metal fire pan or a fire blanket (for a mound fire), to preserve the sensitive alpine environment. Since high alpine landscapes have higher moisture levels and cooler temperatures, they rarely burn, so vegetation and dead wood accumulate, according to a 2023 report supported by Boise State University, published in The Conversation. When fires ravage alpine terrain, they can be intense and unpredictable, and thus harder for fire crews to access and suppress.

Keep Your Fire a Manageable Size

Selecting smaller logs that fit into the fire ring is the best way to keep your campfire a manageable size. Most store-bought, packaged firewood bundles are ready to burn, but if you’re using larger logs, be sure to bring an ax or hatchet to chop the wood into smaller pieces. Consider adding one log at a time, as adding too much fuel can cause the fire to grow rapidly. On a related note, do not burn glass, cans, plastic or garbage in your campfire. Aerosol cans and glass can explode or shatter, while plastic and other synthetic materials can create dangerous fumes, and burning garbage can attract wildlife, including bears.

Never Leave a Fire Unattended

Unattended campfires can quickly become uncontrollable, leading to wildfires that devastate forests, wildlife and local communities. One such example is the 2022 Moose Fire, which was caused by an unattended, unextinguished campfire at a dispersed campsite along the Salmon River. The fire ended up burning over 130,000 acres in the Salmon-Challis National Forest and beyond, prompting evacuations for local ranchers and recreationists alike. Fires should always be supervised by an adult so hazards such as stray sparks can be handled immediately, and monitoring a campfire also means being prepared to extinguish it.

Fully Extinguish Your Fire

To ensure your campfire is fully extinguished, drown it in water, stir with a shovel or stick, and repeat the process until the contents of the fire pit are cool to the touch. Continue pouring water on the fire until the hissing stops, and place your hand directly above the ashes to ensure there is no heat coming from the fire pit. Coals can retain heat for hours and easily flare up if the wind starts gusting, so turn over any large pieces and douse all sides. If your fire is in a rock ring, look for embers tucked in the rocks, and check your campsite for possible sparks or embers, too. 

While it is not recommended to use sand or dirt, you can if it is absolutely necessary. However, you should refrain from dumping sand or dirt on top of the fire, as that can insulate the coals, per the National Park Service (NPS). Instead, follow the same guidelines you would with water, and spread out the coals, while stirring in dirt and sand until the fire is extinguished. 

In the backcountry, it is considered best practice to either scatter the extinguished ashes and charcoal away from camp, or pack them out, which is required in most of Idaho’s river corridors. If you are disposing of burnt logs in a trash receptacle, be sure these pieces of wood are also cold to the touch and thoroughly doused in water, so as not to start a fire in a dumpster or garbage can.

Feature image credited to Elisabeth Brentano.