Campfires: when and where is it OK to light them?

20 Sep Campfires: when and where is it OK to light them?

There is something primeval about watching a campfire. It’s like a lifeline to our forgotten roots in an overconnected yet disconnected world. The hypnotic glow and cosy warmth encourages story-telling, which is, of course, what separated us from the rest of the animal kingdom in the first place.

It seems a shame to ask, “Yes, but when is it safe and legal to light one?” But nowadays, with the doom of climate change looming over us, most of us are thinking more about our environmental impacts. This year there have been terrible droughts and wild fires around the world and that’s set to get worse. So it’s also a topical and very important question.

The rules and ethics in England and Wales

In England and Wales, you’ll need permission from the landowner before lighting a fire, Adam Vasey, a park ranger in the New Forest told me: “Every National Park will be different but as general rule, lighting fires on private ground (even Open Access areas) is discouraged and can even be classed as an illegal activity because out of control moorland and heathland fires can destroy hundreds of acres of habitat and also buildings and other property. I love campfires and mostly choose campsites based on whether they allow fires – some places have fire pits you can use.”

The rules and ethics in Scotland

In Scotland it’s slightly different, Ben Dolphin, a seasonal ranger in the Cairngorms, told me. The ‘Scottish Outdoor Access Code’ is founded on a lovely principle of responsible access. While this does allow for fires in some circumstances, the code clearly states that you should ‘Never light an open fire during prolonged dry periods or in areas such as forests, woods, farmland or on peaty ground’. In general the Code strongly discourages fires, saying where possible use a stove. If you do light a fire, keep it small, leave no trace and consider yourself responsible if it gets out of control.

The problem with peat

The problem, explains Ben, is that a lot of people think they know what they are doing with fires. In Scotland, he says, and especially in the glens, much of the ground is peat, which can burn very well. He regularly approaches people who are having fires on top of peat and hears the explanation, “It’s OK, we know what we are doing, we built this ring of stones and have a litre of water.” But the heat actually burns down and outwards underground. Wild fires frequently start this way. Ben said that it can take 20-30 litres of water to put out even a small camp fire on dry, peaty ground.

Raised fire pits and BBQs

Ben said that while these are obviously better, if it has been dry, even these could be considered irresponsible in some cases and that certainly no BBQ should be in contact with the ground.

Beaches and riverbeds

Ben explained that while beaches tend to be safer spots for fires, some people light them on or close to the dunes rather than down by the tide-line, and this can lead to grass fires and damage to fragile dune ecosystems. He points out that a fire on a riverbed far from vegetation is better than a fire in forest or on peat.

Carry in and carry out

Ben also commented that, as well as making sure you leave no trace after your fire, it is also good practice to try to bring your fuel (wood, charcoal etc) in with you, especially if you are visiting a bothy or popular spot. Dead wood is important in the eco-system as a habitat for lots of creatures. Apparently in a healthy forest around 30% of all the woody material should be dead wood.

Forest School methods

The proliferation of forest schools are a good marker of how bushcraft is rapidly growing in popularity, hand-in-hand with rising awareness about the environment. Here’s an example of what kids learn: only light a fire if you have the landowner’s permission, dig off the top soil so you don’t damage it, light the fire, keep it under control, then thoroughly douse it out afterwards, poke a hole with a stick under the fire so the water can seep down, stay until the coals aren’t hot any more to touch, take the big bits of charcoal away with you and scatter the remaining ash around the area so it’s not concentrated in one place, then replace the top soil. 

Opinion from a UK mountain instructor and expedition leader:

“I wouldn’t light a fire wild camping anywhere in the UK but I have found plenty of basic campsites that do allow them if they are lifted off the ground. I use fires with groups of young people where they are allowed and they love them. Maybe on a quiet beach would be an exception but even then I would make sure to leave no trace when I leave. In South Africa and Swaziland on expedition we did all our cooking on open fires but the fire pits were already in place at our wild camping spots as this was common practice in the wilderness there. I would look at the guidelines for areas you are visiting. In most National Parks around the world I think fires are strongly discouraged” – Mikaela Toczek

Opinion from a UK bushcraft instructor:

“The easy option is to have the landowner’s permission and to have your fuel with you and prepped so you can maintain control of your fire. Using a raised fire pit is a safe option. Working with kids this helps in managing your environment, too. I think you have to separate wild camping from bushcraft. Wild camping is a means to an end. Maybe halfway up a mountain. So you wouldn’t need a fire, just a stove at most. But bushcraft – finding a site to camp and practice those skills – locating a suitable safe spot is part of the art of bushcraft” – Simon Curran, a UK bushcraft instructor