What Should You Not Put In A Campfire: Essential Tips

“How to Safely Manage a Campfire: A Guide on What Not to Burn

Ensuring your safety around a campfire involves more than just getting it started. One crucial aspect is being cautious about the materials you add to the fire, as the resulting smoke can pose greater harm than the flames themselves. It’s essential to steer clear of burning synthetic materials such as plastics, ceramics, and polyester fabrics. Inhaling the smoke from these materials can be detrimental to your health, making it vital to exercise caution when deciding what to throw into the flames. This guidance is based on information as of May 17, 2022.”

Understanding what is safe to burn in a campfire is essential to ensure both safety and environmental responsibility. To begin with, it’s crucial to maintain a clear safety zone around the fire, with flammable objects and debris kept at least 3 feet away to prevent accidents.

When it comes to choosing what to burn, never dispose of trash in a campfire. This includes items such as paper products, plastic, glass, and metals like tin and aluminum cans. Burning these materials can release harmful toxins into the air and harm the environment.

Instead, opt for burning local firewood, which helps reduce the risk of introducing invasive pests to new areas. However, it’s essential to ensure the firewood is dry and free from contaminants. Only burn dry, plain wood in your campfire, avoiding materials like pressure-treated lumber, plywood, painted, or stained wood. These can produce noxious fumes and potentially harmful residue when burned, compromising air quality and posing health risks.

By adhering to these guidelines, you can enjoy a safe and responsible campfire experience, minimizing your impact on the environment while keeping yourself and others safe.

1. Never cut whole trees or branches, dead or alive. …
2. Once you have a strong fire going, add larger pieces of dry wood to keep it burning steadily.
3. Don’t burn dangerous things like aerosol cans, pressurized containers, glass or aluminum cans. …
4. Keep your fire to a manageable size.