Fire - put out or keep lit?

[JLister]

Hey I'm going on my first 2 day 1 night hiking trip. I was wondering if it was a better idea to leave the fire going to keep critters and larger animals away, or if I should put it out in case of spread or would that attract the animals?

[ArizonaSportsman]

Re: Fire - put out or keep lit?

As a personal rule, I put a fire out at night when I turn in, no exceptions. Others may differ, but an unattended fire (even if it's extremely small and in a fire ring) is negligence in my opinion.

[NYCgrrl]

Re: Fire - put out or keep lit?

I use a portable fire pit for most camping trips and since it's smaller than a built in pit I ensure that at least there is no wood overhanging the sides before I go to sleep. After hearing about the now annual fires out West I should probably just pour water atop but haven't to date. A subject that my conscience will revisit this tenting season.

[05Kingquad700]

Re: Fire - put out or keep lit?

I put mine out. I would hate to be the one to burn the forest.

[James.]

Re: Fire - put out or keep lit?

As a personal rule, I put a fire out at night when I turn in, no exceptions. Others may differ, but an unattended fire (even if it's extremely small and in a fire ring) is negligence in my opinion.

ESPECIALLY here in Arizona where everything is already dry.

I put mine out. I would hate to be the one to burn the forest.

Yeah, There is a big one burning here in Arizona right now at a VERY popular spot. Last I heard it was 0% contained. Sucks.

[michelliot]

Re: Fire - put out or keep lit?

I put mine out. I would hate to be the one to burn the forest.

A agree. I would hate to be the one to burn IN the forest

[GlitterHiker]

Re: Fire - put out or keep lit?

Always out - always pour water on it to ensure it's out.

Only YOU can prevent wildfires ... http://www.smokeybear.com/

For the poster, if you psychologically feel light would keep critters away, then turn on a small lantern. (One small enough that doesn't shine on neighboring campers.)

[gatordude]

Re: Fire - put out or keep lit?

Always out, no doubt. Have fun.

[West Texan]

Re: Fire - put out or keep lit?

I would put it out if I ever went to a spot that allowed a campfire in the first place. All of our area is too dry, we have burn bans in just about every county out here.

[terasec]

Re: Fire - put out or keep lit?

your location will determine whether to keep it lit, or put it out,
here in Northeast, i let it burn, good firepit, clear of debri, and surrounded by swamp, forest fires is not much of a threat here,
out west, a different story, i would keep it small and put it out,
if you dont mind carrying it, can use a small bottle of bleach, drip some around your campsite, and once critters get a sniff of it, will keep them away,

[Rokkitsci]

Re: Fire - put out or keep lit?

Put it out - it is a legal, as well as common sense, requirement in any National Forest or BLM land, especially out west.

And this advice is from the guy that got awakened at 3 am in Yellowstone about 5 years ago by a park ranger to put out my fire!!! I had just started building my fire the prior evening when it began to rain. I tossed my coffee onto the nascent fire and went to my tent, just as it began to snow.

At 3 am the ranger called out to me and sure enough, there in the snow within my fire pit was a little flame struggling to stay alive. I wanted so much to ask the ranger if he was afraid I would start a "wild snow-fire," but I could tell he was embarrassed to be enforcing the law - so I just apologized and went out into the beautiful snow covered campsite and put it out.

<sigh> I am now officially a scofflaw.