A campfire is a fire lit at a campsite, usually in a fire ring. Fire is the heat and light energy released during a Chemical reaction, in particular a combustion reaction. Description The term "camp" comes from the Latin word campus, meaning field A fire ring is a device used to contain Campfires and prevent them from spreading and turning into Wildfires A fire ring is designed to contain a fire Campfires are a popular feature of camping, particularly among organized campers such as Scouts or Guides. Definition Camping describes a range of activities Survivalist campers set off with little more than their boots whereas Recreational vehicle travelers arrive equipped Scouting, also known as the Scout Movement, is a worldwide Youth movement with the stated aim of supporting young people in their physical mental and spiritual This is an article about the young person in the Scouting movement Without proper precautions they are also potentially dangerous. A certain degree of skill is needed to properly build a campfire, to keep it going, and to see that it is properly extinguished. In some regions it is called a bonfire.
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The dangers
A campfire may burn out of control in two basic ways: on the ground or in the trees. A tree is a perennial Woody plant. It is most often defined as a woody plant that has many secondary branches supported clear of the ground on a single main stem or Dead leaves or pine needles on the ground may ignite from direct contact with burning wood, or from thermal radiation. In Botany, a leaf is an above-ground Plant organ specialized for Photosynthesis. This article is about the tree For other uses of the term "pine" see Pine (disambiguation. Wood is hard fibrous lignified structural tissue produced as secondary Xylem in the stems of Woody plants notably trees but also shrubs Thermal radiation is Electromagnetic radiation emitted from the surface of an object which is due to the object's Temperature. Alternatively, airborne embers (or their smaller kin, sparks) may ignite dead material in overhanging branches. Embers are the glowing hot coals made of greatly heated Wood, Coal or other carbon based material that remain after or sometimes precede a Fire. A branch ( American English ˈbræntʃ British English ˈbrɑːntʃ or tree branch (sometimes referred to in Botany as a ramus This latter threat is less likely, but a fire in a branch will be virtually impossible to put out without firefighting equipment, and may spread more quickly than a ground fire. Fire is the heat and light energy released during a Chemical reaction, in particular a combustion reaction. Hence, many campgrounds include fire rings to prevent this from occurring.
Embers may simply fall off of logs and be carried away by the air, or they may be ejected at high speed by exploding pockets of sap. With these dangers in mind, some places prohibit all open fires, particularly during times of the year that are prone to wildfires. A wildfire, also known as a wildland fire, forest fire, brush fire, vegetation fire, grass fire, Peat fire,
Campfires are prohibited in many public camping areas. Public areas with large tracts of woodland usually have signs indicating the level of fire danger, which usually depends on recent rain and the amount of deadfalls or dry debris; when the danger is highest, all open fires are prohibited. Ecologically a woodland is an area covered in trees differentiated from a Forest. Fire is the heat and light energy released during a Chemical reaction, in particular a combustion reaction. Even in safer times, it is common to require registration and permits to build a campfire. Such areas are often kept under observation by rangers, who will dispatch someone to investigate any unidentified plume of smoke. A Park ranger is a person in lead of protecting and preserving parklands - national state or provincial parks
Finding a site, and other safety measures
Ideally, every fire should be lit in a fire ring. A fire ring is a device used to contain Campfires and prevent them from spreading and turning into Wildfires A fire ring is designed to contain a fire If a fire ring is not available, a temporary fire site may be constructed. One way is to cover the ground with sand, or other soil mostly free of flammable organic material, to a depth of a few inches. Sand is a naturally occurring Granular material composed of finely divided rock and Mineral particles An organic compound is any member of a large class of Chemical compounds whose Molecules contain Carbon. Fire rings, however, do not fully protect material on the ground from catching fire. Flying embers are still a threat, and the fire ring may become hot enough to ignite material in contact with it. Generally, one must simply stand away from the ring to prevent injury.
No fire should be lit close to trees, tents or other fire hazards. A tree is a perennial Woody plant. It is most often defined as a woody plant that has many secondary branches supported clear of the ground on a single main stem or A tent is a shelter consisting of sheets of fabric or other material draped over or attached to a frame of poles or attached to a supporting rope This includes overhanging branches; some carry dead, dry material that can ignite from a single airborne ember. In addition, a fire may harm any roots under it, even if they are protected by a thin layer of soil. ROOT is an object-oriented program and library developed by CERN. Conifers run a greater risk of root damage, because they lack taproots and their roots run close to the surface. A Plant 's taproot is a straight tapering Root that grows vertically down
Fires also should not be lit on bare rocks. The ash will leave a black stain that cannot be easily removed, but the fire's heat can lead to more dramatic consequences. It will cause the outer layer of the rock to expand, possibly causing it to crack. It may also boil pockets of water contained in the rock.
An additional safety measure is to have sand and water on hand to smother and douse the fire if it does get out of the fire pit. Water is a common Chemical substance that is essential for the survival of all known forms of Life. It is wise to gather these materials before they are actually needed.
Types of fuel
There are, by conventional classification, three types of material involved in building a fire without manufactured fuels. Fuel is any material that is burned or altered in order to obtain energy
- Tinder is anything that can be lit with a match. Tinder is easily combustible material used to ignite Fires by rudimentary methods A match is a consumable Tool for lighting a Fire under controlled circumstances on demand One of the best natural tinders is birch bark or cedar bark, where available, followed by dead, dry pine needles or grass; a more comprehensive list is given in the article on tinder. Birch bark or birchbark is generally understood to be the Bark of the Paper Birch tree ( Betula papyrifera) or sometimes of related species such Cedar ( Cedrus) is a genus of Coniferous Trees in the Plant family Pinaceae. This article is about the tree For other uses of the term "pine" see Pine (disambiguation. Poaceae or Gramineae is a family in the Class Liliopsida of the flowering plants. Tinder is easily combustible material used to ignite Fires by rudimentary methods
- Kindling is an arbitrary classification including anything bigger than tinder but smaller than fuelwood. In fact, there are gradations of kindling, from sticks thinner than a finger to those as thick as a wrist. A quantity of kindling sufficient to fill a hat may be enough, but more is better.
- Fuel can be different types of timber. Lumber or timber is Wood in any of its stages from felling through readiness for use as structural Material for Construction, or Timber ranges from small logs two or three inches across to larger logs that can burn for hours. It is typically difficult to gather without a hatchet or other cutting tool. See Hatchet (novel for the Young adult novel. See Hatchet (film for the Horror film. In heavily used campsites, fuelwood can be hard to find, so it may have to be brought from home or purchased at a nearby store.
- Pitchwood
can be found in the temperate rainforests of the Pacific Northwest of the United States. Fir trees, especially the Douglas fir, wil leave stumps in the ground when they die. Firs ( Abies) are a genus of between 45-55 species of Evergreen conifers in the family Pinaceae. Douglas-fir is the common name applied to coniferous Trees of the Genus Pseudotsuga in the family Pinaceae. These stumps contain spires of resine-impregnated wood which can easily be lighted using only a single match or lighter. "To identify pitchwood, first look for an old snag stub. . . Along with the red, rotten wood, you will find veins of solid wood radiating out between the rotten wood areas. There also may be spikes of sound wood sticking up above the rotten wood. Take your knife and whittle a shaving. Smell this shaving. If it has a penetrating, turpentive odor, you have found some pitchwood. Also, look around the base of the snag stub; there may be pieces of pitchwood that have fallen off during the process of decay. Pitchwood is heavy, and will have a reddish to black color, depending on the amount of resin or pitch that the wood contains. " By shaving the pitchwood into small splinters, it will readily ignite. Pitchwood does not absorb water, and so will ignite in any weather when sheltered from rain and wind. In the southeastern United States it is formed from the heartwood of Longleaf pine trees and is called "fat lighter" or "lighter'd" (a shortening of lighter-wood). The 'Longleaf Pine' ( Pinus palustris) is a Pine native to the southeast United States, found along the coastal plain from eastern Texas to southeast (Reference--Ratliff, Donald E. , Sr. , Map, Compass and Campfire, Binford & Mort, Publishers, 1964, page 45. )
Pitchwood from a fir stump
The gathering of fuel in natural areas is often restricted. Cutting of living trees is almost always forbidden - but neither is it very useful, because sap-filled wood does not burn well. Squaw wood (dead parts of standing trees) may also be prohibited. Wood lying on the ground is usually permitted.
Building the fire
Having found a suitable site and gathered materials, the fire-builder has a variety of designs to choose from. A good design is very important in the early stages of a fire. Most of them make no mention of fuelwood - in most designs, fuelwood is never placed on a fire until the kindling is burning strongly.
- The tipi fire-build is perhaps the best, but it is takes some patience to construct. First, the tinder is piled up in a compact heap. The smaller kindling is arranged around it, like the poles of a tipi. A tipi' (also teepee, tepee) is a conical Tent originally made of animal skins or birch bark and popularized by the Native Americans For added strength, it may be possible to lash some of the sticks together. A tripod lashing is quite difficult to execute with small sticks, so a clove hitch should suffice. A lashing is an arrangement of Rope used to secure two or more items together in a somewhat rigid manner The clove hitch is a type of Knot. Along with the Bowline and the Sheet bend, is often considered one of the most essential knots (Synthetic rope should be avoided, since it produces pollutants when it burns. Pollution is the introduction of contaminants into an environment that causes instability disorder harm or discomfort to the physical systems or living organisms they are in ) Then the larger kindling is arranged above the smaller kindling, taking care not to collapse the tipi. A separate tipi as a shell around the first one may work better. Tipi fires are excellent for producing heat to keep you warm.
- A lean-to fire-build starts with the same pile of tinder as the tipi fire-build. Then, a long, thick piece of kindling is driven into the ground at an angle, so that it overhangs the tinder pile. The smaller pieces of kindling are leaned against the big stick so that the tinder is enclosed between them.
- A log cabin fire-build likewise begins with a tinder pile. The kindling is then stacked around it, as in the construction of a log cabin. A log cabin is a small house built from logs It is a fairly simple type of Log house. The first two kindling sticks are laid parallel to each other, on opposite sides of the tinder pile. The second pair is laid on top of the first, at right angles to it, and also on opposite sides of the tinder. More kindling is added in the same manner. The smallest kindling is placed over the top of the assembly. Of all the fire-builds, the log cabin is the least vulnerable to premature collapse, but it is also inefficient, because it makes the worst use of convection to ignite progressively larger pieces of fuel. Convection in the most general terms refers to the movement of molecules within Fluids (i
- A variation on the log cabin starts with two pieces of fuelwood with a pile of tinder between them, and small kindling laid over the tops of the logs, above the tinder. The tinder is lit, and the kindling is allowed to catch fire. When it is burning briskly, it is broken and pushed down into the consumed tinder, and the larger kindling is placed over the top of the logs. When that is burning well, it is also pushed down. Eventually, a pile of kindling should be burning between two pieces of fuelwood. The logs will eventually catch fire from it.
- Another variation is called the funeral pyre method because it is used for building funeral pyres. A pyre (from the Greek: πυρά pyrá, from πυρ pýr, fire is a structure usually made of Wood, for burning a body as part of a Its main difference from the standard log cabin is that it starts with thin pieces and moves up to thick pieces. If built on a large scale, this type of fire-build collapses in a controlled manner without restricting the air flow.
- A cross-fire is another variation in which two pieces of fuel wood are placed parallel on the ground with tinder between them. Once the kindling is going strong, alternating perpendicular layers of fuelwood are placed across the two base pieces. This type of fire is excellent for producing coals for cooking.
- The traditional Finnish rakovalkea (literally "slit bonfire") is constructed by placing one long piece of fuelwood atop another, parallel and bolstering them in place with four sturdy posts driven into the ground. Finland, officially the Republic of Finland ( is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of northern Europe. (Traditionally, whole unsplit tree trunks are used for the fuelwood. ) Kindling and tinder are placed between the logs in sufficient quantity (while avoiding the very ends) to raise the upper log and allow ventilation. The tinder is always lit at the center so the bolstering posts don't burn prematurely. The rakovalkea has two excellent features. First, it burns slowly but steadily when lit; it doesn't require arduous maintenance, but burns for a very long time. A well constructed rakovalkea of two thick logs of two meters in length can warm two lean-to shelters for a whole sleeping shift. The construction causes the logs themselves to protect the fire from the wind. Thus, exposure to smoke is unlikely for the sleepers; nevertheless someone should always watch in case of an emergency. Second, it can be easily scaled to larger sizes (for a feast) limited only by the length of available tree trunks.
- A keyhole fire is made in a keyhole-shaped fire ring, and is used in cooking. The large round area is used to build a fire in order to create coals. As coals develop, they are scraped into the rectangular area used for cooking.
- A "top lighter" fire is built similar to a log cabin or pyre, but instead of the tinder and kindling being placed inside the cabin, it is placed in a tipi on top. The small tipi is lighted on top, and the coals eventually fall down into the log cabin. These fires are often built by youth outdoor movements for "council fires" or ceremonial fires. They burn very predictably, and with some practice a builder can estimate how long they will last. They also don't throw off a lot of heat, which isn't needed for a ceremonial fire. The fire burns from the top down, with the layer of hot coals and burning stubs ignighting the next layer down.
Lighting the fire
Once the fire is built, the next step is to light the tinder, using either an ignition device such as a match or a lighter. Many different techniques for making fire exist Smoldering plants and trees or any source of hot Coals from natural fires is the oldest way to make a fire A match is a consumable Tool for lighting a Fire under controlled circumstances on demand A lighter is a portable device used to create a Flame. It consists of a metal or plastic container filled with lighter fluid (usually Naphtha or liquid Butane A reasonably skillful fire-builder using reasonably good material will only need one match. The tinder will burn brightly, but be reduced to glowing embers within half a minute. If the kindling does not catch fire, the fire-builder must gather more tinder, determine what went wrong and try to fix it.
One of five problems can prevent a fire from lighting properly: wet wood, wet weather, too little tinder, too much wind, or a lack of oxygen. Rain will, of course, douse a fire, but a combination of wind and fog also has a stifling effect. Wind is the flow of Air or other Gases that compose an Atmosphere (including but not limited to the Earth's) Fog is a cloud that is in contact with the ground Stratus clouds are usually the only clouds that touch the ground Metal fire rings generally do a good job of keeping out wind, but some of them are so high as to impede the circulation of oxygen in a small fire. To make matters worse, these tall fire rings also make it very difficult to blow on the fire properly.
Steady, forceful blowing may be in order for a small fire in an enclosed space that has mysteriously slowed down, but blowing may extinguish a fire if it is done abruptly or when it is not needed. Most large fires easily create their own circulation, even in unfavorable conditions, but the variant log-cabin fire-build suffers from a chronic lack of air so long as the initial structure is maintained.
Once the large kindling is burning, all of the kindling should be put on the fire, save for one piece at least a foot long. This piece is useful later to push pieces of fuelwood where they are needed. Once all of the kindling is burning, the fuelwood should be placed on top of it (unless, as in the rakovalkea fire-build, it is already there). For best results, two or more pieces of fuelwood should be leaned against each other, as in the tipi fire-build.
Campfire activities
Campfires have been used for cooking since time immemorial. Cooking is the process of preparing Food by applying Heat, selecting measuring and combining of ingredients in an ordered procedure for producing safe and edible Possibly the simplest method of cooking over a campfire and one of the most common is to roast food on long skewers that can be held above the flames. This is a popular technique for cooking hot dogs or toasting marshmallows for making s'mores. Another technique is to use pie irons — small iron molds with long handles, into which can be placed slices of bread with some form of filling — which are placed over hot coals to cook. However, portable stoves have all but replaced campfires for cooking. A Portable stove is a stove specially designed to be portable and lightweight as for camping.
- For more information, see Campfire cooking. Outdoor cooking differs substantially from kitchen-based cooking the most obvious difference being lack of an easily defined kitchen area
Other practical, though not commonly needed, applications for campfires include drying wet clothing, alleviating hypothermia, and distress signaling. Clothing (also called clothes, accoutrements, accouterments, or habiliments) protects the Human body from extreme Weather Hypothermia is a condition in which an organism's temperature drops below that required for normal Metabolism and bodily functions
Most campfires, though, are lit exclusively for recreation. People tend to find something fascinating about flames and glowing coals, so a campfire is usually an agreeable (and warm) way to pass the time from dusk to bedtime, particularly for those in a pensive mood. Dusk refers to the period of time following Sunset. Although commonly confused with twilight dusk is the time frame that occurs either before or after a twilight - when the A bedtime is a popular Parenting tradition in the West that involves to a greater or lesser extent rituals made to help Children feel more secure, and become accustomed Campfires are also good venues for intimate conversation and storytelling; yarns and stories about poltergeists are particularly popular. A narrative or story is a construct created in a suitable format (written spoken poetry prose images song Theater, or Dance) that describes a sequence of This article is about the fiber product For the type of joke see Shaggy dog story. (from German poltern, meaning to rumble or make noise and Geist, meaning " Ghost ", " Spirit " Songs are also usually sung by the fire, a tradition that is usually associated with Scouting. Scouting Songs are popular tunes that are sung all over the country at campfires all summer – and all year – long. Another tradition in most scout outings involving a whole scout district (especially Boy Scouts) is to perform sketch comedy a. Sketch comedy consists of a series of short Comedy scenes or vignettes called "sketches" commonly between one and ten minutes long k. a. skits.
Another traditional campfire activity involves impaling marshmallows on sticks or uncoiled coat hangers, and roasting them over the fire. The Marshmallow is a Confection that in its modern form typically consists of Sugar or Corn syrup, water Gelatin that has been pre-softened Roasted marshmallows may also be used for S'mores. s'more is a traditional Campfire treat popular in the United States and Canada, consisting of a roasted Marshmallow and a slab of
Ash tradition
The campfire ash tradition exists in Scouting all over the world. The United States Army is a military organization whose primary mission is to "provide necessary forces and capabilities. The Punitive Expedition (officially known in the United States as the Mexican Expedition) was a Military operation conducted by the United States Scouting, also known as the Scout Movement, is a worldwide Youth movement with the stated aim of supporting young people in their physical mental and spiritual There may be an introduction and closing to it at the end of a campfire ceremony or individuals may partake of this tradition on their own.
Lord Robert Baden-Powell, the founder of Scouting and the Chief Scout of the World, used to collect some of the ashes from each Scouting event and he would mix them with water and all people with him at the time would drink from the cup. As this tradition has spread, Scouts from around the world have shared campfire ash water with each other. Lists have been kept of the events where this has happened. These lists form a history and a bond between Scouts and Scouters over the years; regardless of the distance, language, culture or uniform. A Scout Leader or Scouter generally refers to the trained adult leader of a Scout unit This ash tradition represents the Friendship and Scouting Spirit shared by Scouts and Guides at campfires around the world.
Extinguishing the fire
Leaving a fire unattended is dangerous. Any number of accidents might occur in the absence of people, leading to property damage, personal injury or possibly a wildfire. Ash is a very good insulator, so embers left overnight will only lose a fraction of their heat. The term thermal insulation can refer to materials used to reduce the rate of Heat transfer, or the methods and processes used to reduce heat transfer It is even possible to restart the new day's fire by using the embers via an igniting device.
Large amounts of water are indispensable for extinguishing a fire. To properly cool a fire, water should be splashed on all the embers, including places that are not glowing red. Splashing the water is both more effective and efficient in extinguishing the fire. The water will boil violently and carry ash in the air with it, dirtying anything nearby but not posing a safety hazard. The water should be poured until the hissing noises stop. Then the ashes should be stirred with a stick to make sure that the water has penetrated all the layers; if the hissing continues, more water should be added. A fire is fully extinguished if the ashes are cool to the touch.
If water is scarce, sand may be used. The sand will deprive the fire of oxygen quite well, but it is much less effective than water at absorbing heat. Once the fire has been covered thoroughly with sand, all water that can be spared should be poured on it, and the sand stirred into the ash.
However, since wetting the pit and/or filling it with sand makes it difficult for the next person to get a clean fire lit, fully extinguishing a campfire in a frequently-used metal or rugged stone firepit is considered poor etiquette. At a popular campground or other location where you expect other people to want to light a fire within two days and where the local fire risk isn't unusually high (ie, if the fire risk is in the blue or green zones) and only when surrounding vegetation is green and healthy rather than dried out, you should cool the firepit rather than fully extinguishing it. A few hours before you vacate the site, extinguish visible flames, preferably by suffocating the flames in their own fuel, or let the fire "run out. " Spread the remaining coals around within the confins of the firepit to allow them to cool down. Once the coals are no longer red, it is safe to leave the site.
When winter or "ice" camping with an inch or more of snow on the ground, neither of the above protocols are necessary--simply douse visible flames before leaving.
Finally, in lightly-used wilderness areas, it is best to replace anything that was moved while preparing the fire site, and scatter anything that was gathered, so that it looks as natural as possible. Wilderness is generally defined as a Natural environment on Earth that has not been significantly modified by Human activity Make absolutely certain that anything that was in or near the fire is fully cooled before following this protocol.
See also
External links
- Beginners Guide to Starting a Campfire
- About.com Start a Campfire
- All About Starting Campfires Survivalbill.ca
Dictionary
campfire
-noun
- (fire) fire at a campground or on a camping trip, often used for cooking, to provide light and heat, to drive away bugs, and as a focal point for sitting around in the evening and talking, telling stories, and singing.
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