Every year, thousands of wildfires are started by unattended or improperly managed campfires. Whether you’re burning in your backyard or at a remote campsite, following proper fire safety practices protects you, your property, and the wild spaces we all love. Here are 12 rules that every fire enthusiast should follow without exception.
Before You Light
1. Check Local Fire Regulations
Before starting any outdoor fire, check current fire restrictions in your area. Many regions implement seasonal burn bans during dry periods. National forests, state parks, and even some neighborhoods have specific rules about open fires. Ignorance isn’t a defense — fines for violating burn bans can reach thousands of dollars, and you could be liable for damages if your fire spreads.
2. Choose Your Location Carefully
Place your fire pit on a level, non-flammable surface — bare dirt, gravel, concrete, or stone. Keep it at least 10 feet from structures, fences, trees, and overhanging branches. Check overhead for low-hanging limbs that could catch rising embers. Never place a fire pit on a wooden deck without a proper fire-rated pad underneath.
Using a portable fire pit like the NatureStove Spark 15″ with legs keeps the fire elevated and reduces ground scarring — a Leave No Trace best practice.
3. Prepare Your Fire Extinguishing Tools
Before lighting, have these within arm’s reach: a bucket of water, a shovel, and ideally a fire extinguisher. Never start a fire without a way to put it out quickly. A fire pit accessory kit with tongs and a poker helps you manage your fire safely.
4. Check the Wind
Wind is fire’s unpredictable accomplice. If sustained winds exceed 15 mph, postpone your fire. Even moderate wind can carry embers hundreds of feet. Position yourself upwind and keep a close eye on any sparks leaving the fire area.
While It Burns
5. Never Leave a Fire Unattended
This is the single most important rule. An unattended fire can go from controlled to catastrophic in minutes. If everyone is going inside, even briefly, extinguish the fire first. Assign a “fire watcher” at group gatherings to ensure someone always has eyes on the flames.
6. Keep Your Fire Small and Manageable
Bigger isn’t better when it comes to safety. A moderately sized fire is easier to control, produces less smoke, and is more enjoyable to sit around. Our smokeless fire pits are designed to create impressive flames within a contained space — all the ambiance with a fraction of the risk.
7. Burn Only Clean, Dry Wood
Never burn treated lumber, painted wood, plastics, trash, or yard waste in your fire pit. These materials release toxic chemicals and can create dangerous flare-ups. Stick to seasoned hardwood or kiln-dried firewood. Green or wet wood produces excessive smoke and creosote buildup.
8. Keep Children and Pets at a Safe Distance
Establish a clear “fire zone” perimeter — at least 3 feet from the fire pit in all directions. Teach children that the fire zone is off-limits without adult supervision. Keep pets leashed or supervised around fires, as curious dogs are a common source of fire pit accidents.
9. Never Use Accelerants
Gasoline, lighter fluid, and alcohol on an active fire create explosive flare-ups that cause severe burns. If your fire needs help getting started, use proper fire starters, fatwood, or newspaper. A well-designed fire pit with good airflow like the NatureStove Ember makes starting fires easy without any accelerants.
Putting It Out
10. Extinguish Completely — Every Time
The “drown, stir, feel” method is the gold standard:
- Drown: Pour water slowly over all embers, not just the red ones
- Stir: Mix the ashes and embers with a shovel or stick to expose hidden hot spots
- Feel: Hold your hand near (not on) the ashes. If you feel any warmth, repeat the process
Fire pits with removable ash pans make this process much easier — you can safely remove and douse the ashes away from your gathering area.
11. Never Bury Hot Coals
Buried coals can smolder for days and reignite when conditions are right. Hot coals buried at a campsite have started fires days after the campers left. Always fully extinguish before covering or leaving.
12. Dispose of Ashes Safely
Even after dousing, ashes can retain heat for up to 24 hours. Store cooled ashes in a metal container with a lid, away from structures and combustible materials. Never dump ashes in a plastic trash can or cardboard box.
Special Considerations for Tent Stoves
If you’re using a wood stove inside a tent or shelter, additional precautions apply:
- Use only tents designed for stove use with a proper stove jack
- Ensure the chimney pipe extends well above the tent peak
- Install a spark arrestor on the chimney top
- Keep a carbon monoxide detector inside the tent
- Maintain proper ventilation — never seal all vents
- Use a chimney pipe extension if needed for proper clearance
Fire Safety Is Fire Enjoyment
Following these rules isn’t about limiting your fun — it’s about ensuring you can enjoy fires for years to come, in the wild places that mean the most to you. A safe fire is a relaxing fire. When you know everything is under control, you can actually sit back and enjoy the warmth.
Invest in quality fire equipment designed with safety in mind, keep your fire skills sharp, and always respect the power of flame. The outdoors gives us so much — it’s our job to protect it in return. That’s a value we hold close at NatureStove — read our story to see what drives us.
