Sitting around a warm campfire is one of the best parts of camping, but it is important that you know the proper way to extinguish your fire when you’re done.
Leaving a fire burning unattended is not only risky, but it can sometimes be illegal, especially in a national forest or state park.
Fire safety is a skill that all outdoor enthusiasts should know and take seriously.
Below we have provided some steps for putting out your fire quickly and easily.
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1.) Stop Adding Wood Early
Step one in extinguishing your fire is to stop adding wood at the right time.
When you add wood, you give the fire something to feed on.
This will only build your fire, causing it to burn full force as you try to extinguish it—the opposite of what you want.
Instead, try to stop adding wood about 30 minutes before you plan on putting the fire out. Let any remaining wood pieces burn to ash and small embers, so the fire dies out a little on its own.
2.) Pour Water on the Fire
Pour water over the entire fire (every part, not just the red-hot parts).
This a great way to put out your embers.
You should hear a hissing sound as the fire cools; continue pouring until you no longer hear the hissing.
If you need to conserve your fresh drinking water while on a longer backpacking trip, try another way of extinguishing your fire, like smothering it with dirt.
3.) Stir the Ashes
After pouring water over your fire, use a stick or camp shovel to stir the wet ashes and coals.
You may find there are hidden hotspots hiding underneath that weren’t immediately noticeable.
These hidden pockets of heat can reignite long after you think the fire has gone cold, causing forest fires and getting you in trouble.
4.) Add More Water if Needed
After stirring, you may realize you need to pour a little more water on the coals.
You can repeat the stirring/water process as many times as you need.
5.) Check for Heat
Finally, place your hand near the fire (not in it) and check for any leftover heat.
If you don’t feel any, and you don’t see any hotspots, you should be finished.
You can now leave your campsite knowing that you aren’t leaving a potentially hazardous fire source behind, and you’re in compliance with all burn regulations.
Final Thoughts–Fire Safety
Fire safety is important.
Properly extinguishing your campfire helps prevent wildfires and protects the areas we all love to hike, backpack, and camp, so we can enjoy them for years to come.
It only takes a few extra minutes to do the right thing, and it ultimately keeps the outdoors safe for everyone.
Putting your fire out properly is no different that returning your shopping cart to the corral after grocery shopping–it’s a personal test of integrity and morals.
Don’t be the person that leaves their cart in the middle of the parking lot. Make Smokey the Bear happy and put out your fires!
Thanks for reading!
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