CAMPFIRE SAFETY: DON’T BE THAT GUY!

Campfire Safety is Everyone’s Job

By Del Albright
Sustainable Motorized Recreation Advocate | delalbright.com

Why Campfire Safety is Critical

You’d think we wouldn’t need reminders in 2025, but here we are: too many wildfires are still started by unattended, uncontained, or careless campfires. As motorized recreationists, we often travel deep into remote, flammable terrain. That means we carry a greater responsibility to know the rules and follow the fire-smart way. In the West, especially, we have experienced a terrible run of raging infernos, mostly caused by human activities. We shouldn’t let campfires contribute to that problem! Let’s all learn and practice good campfire protocols.

Here are some straight-forward tips.

5 Quick Tips to Keep Campfires Safe and Legal

1. Check Before You Burn

Fire restrictions change fast
Always check local agency websites before lighting up
Use and check apps like Watch Duty for wildfire situation
No cell signal? Assume fire ban if it’s hot, dry, or windy

2. Use Existing Fire Rings

Avoid creating new scars on the landscape
Clear debris and keep flames small

3. Keep Water and Shovel Handy

Always have a way to put it out
Fire extinguisher is a bonus, but old-school water + dirt works fine
Obey rules of campfire permit

4. Extinguish Completely

Drown it, stir it, repeat until cold to the touch with back of hand
No smoldering embers, ever

5. Leave It Better

Clean up coals and trash
Leave it cleaner than you found it

Bonus Tips for Responsible Campers

No fire? No problem. Use a propane fire pit when legal.
Teach your group the basics. Don’t assume everyone knows.
Preach fire safety to your camping crowd.
Share fire danger alerts on your socials to help others.

Added Bonus:

For more about wildfires and the mess we are in with mega-monster fires, get my book on “Welcome to the Mega-Fire Generation,” available on Amazon.

More on Safe, Sustainable Travel

We lose trails to fire damage. We lose access when someone is careless. Don’t be the reason land managers say “no more.”

Share the Post: