Campfire Safety Guide: How to Build and Extinguish a Fire Safely
There is something very satisfying about sitting outside in the evening with a fire burning nearby. Once the tent is up and dinner is finished, a small fire can make the whole campsite feel different.
But a campfire is one part of camping where it pays to slow down and think before you start.
A fire that is manageable in one location may not be appropriate somewhere else. Dry grass, wind, overhanging branches and nearby tents can all turn a small fire into a much bigger problem. There are also campsite rules and local restrictions to consider.
So before thinking about how to build a campfire, the first question is whether you should have one at all.
This guide covers the practical side of campfire safety, from choosing a suitable location and keeping the fire under control to cooking safely and making sure it is completely out before you leave.
Before You Light a Campfire, Check That You Can
This is the part that is easy to overlook.
You cannot assume that because you’re camping, having a campfire is automatically allowed.
Many campsites do not allow open fires at all. Others may allow them only in designated fire pits or specific areas. In England and Wales, the Countryside Code advises visitors not to light fires and to only use BBQs where signs say they are allowed. Local restrictions and campsite rules can also apply.
If you’re camping on private land, you should have the landowner’s permission and still need to consider any relevant restrictions and the conditions on the ground.
If you’re unsure, ask.
It is much easier to check with the campsite owner before lighting a fire than to discover afterwards that fires are not allowed.
Choose the Right Place for the Fire
If fires are permitted, use the designated fire area whenever one is provided.
A proper fire pit gives you a much safer starting point than simply clearing a patch of ground yourself.
The location should be:
Away from tents, awnings, vehicles and other camping equipment
Clear of dry grass, leaves and other easily flammable material
Away from low branches and vegetation
On stable, suitable ground
Somewhere the fire can be watched easily
Away from anything that could catch fire from sparks or heat
The campsite may also have its own rules about where fires can be positioned.
Don’t move a fire pit closer to your tent simply because the evening has become cold. The extra warmth isn’t worth increasing the risk of a tent fire.
Think About the Weather Before You Start
A calm evening can make a fire seem very easy to manage.
Wind can change that quickly.
Even a modest breeze can carry sparks into dry grass, nearby bushes or another part of the campsite. If the ground is particularly dry, the risk of fire spreading can increase significantly.
If conditions are very dry or windy, don’t light the fire.
This is especially important during periods of high wildfire risk. Government fire guidance warns that outdoor fires can spread and cause serious damage to people, property and the countryside.
Have a look at the actual conditions around your pitch as well as checking the forecast. If everything around you is dry and the wind is picking up, that matters.
Keep the Fire Smaller Than You Think You Need
A campfire doesn’t need to be enormous.
In fact, a smaller fire is usually easier to control, easier to cook over and easier to put out at the end of the evening.
Start with a small amount of suitable dry fuel and build gradually rather than putting a huge pile of wood onto the fire straight away.
You want enough heat for what you’re doing without creating a large column of flames and sparks.
If you’re sitting around the fire, you should be able to manage it comfortably without constantly moving further away because of the heat.
Build the Fire Gradually
Where fires are permitted, a simple approach is usually best.
Start with your approved fire area and use suitable dry fuel. Small pieces of wood or kindling can be used to get things going before adding larger pieces.
Give the fire plenty of space to establish itself rather than trying to create a large flame immediately.
Once the fire is burning properly, add larger pieces gradually.
There is no need to build the biggest fire possible.
A controlled fire is much easier to manage than one that suddenly becomes too large.
What Should You Take With You?
A few simple things can make managing a permitted campfire much easier.
Useful items include:
A reliable lighter or matches kept somewhere dry
Suitable firelighters
Dry firewood
A bucket of water where appropriate
Heat-resistant gloves
Suitable cookware if you’re cooking
A torch or camping lantern
A basic tool for handling firewood if needed
You can also browse CampingStyle’s current Multi-tools category if you want something useful for general campsite jobs as well as your fire setup.
A torch or lantern is particularly useful once it gets dark. You don’t want to be trying to find water, move equipment or check the fire using only the light from the flames.
Our [Lighting & Lanterns] category has a range of camping lighting options.
Never Use Petrol or Other Flammable Liquids
This is one shortcut that should never be necessary.
Do not use petrol, paraffin or other flammable liquids to start or revive a camping fire.
Liquids can ignite unpredictably and cause serious burns.
Use proper fire-lighting methods and suitable firelighters instead.
The same principle applies to camping stoves. Fire and rescue guidance warns against using petrol or paraffin to light solid-fuel stoves.
Never Leave a Campfire Unattended
If you’re responsible for the fire, keep an eye on it.
Don’t leave it burning while you go for a walk, head to another part of the campsite or go into your tent.
This also applies if there are children or dogs around.
A fire can look harmless when the flames are low while still containing very hot embers.
Keep children and pets away from the fire area and make sure everyone knows where the safe boundary is.
Be Careful When Cooking Over a Fire
Cooking over a campfire can be enjoyable, but remember that you’re dealing with an open flame rather than a normal kitchen hob.
Use cookware designed for outdoor cooking and give yourself enough space to handle hot pans safely.
Don’t position yourself so that you have to reach across the fire to get to food or cooking equipment.
Keep anything flammable away from the flames and don’t leave cooking unattended.
And don’t put hot cookware somewhere where a child or dog could knock it over.
For many camping trips, a portable stove is easier to control than an open fire.
You can browse the current Portable Stoves category on CampingStyle for camping cooking options.
Never Cook Inside Your Tent
This deserves its own section because it is such an important rule.
Never use a campfire, barbecue or cooking appliance inside a tent.
That includes trying to cook in a tent porch or another enclosed area.
UK Government fire safety guidance specifically says never to cook inside a tent and advises keeping cooking appliances away from tent walls and other flammable materials.
There is also a carbon monoxide risk from fuel-burning appliances.
If the weather is miserable, it can be tempting to move cooking somewhere more sheltered. Don’t.
Keep cooking equipment outside in a suitable, well-ventilated location and follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
Keep Tents and Camping Equipment Well Away
Tents are not fireproof.
Even a small flame, hot ember or spark can cause serious damage surprisingly quickly.
Keep your fire well away from:
Tents
Awnings
Camping chairs
Sleeping bags
Clothing
Drying towels
Vehicles
Bags and other equipment
Don’t hang clothes close to the fire because they’re wet and you want them to dry.
And don’t put a chair so close to the flames that you can feel the heat building up through the fabric.
It sounds obvious, but campfires have a habit of making people move closer as the evening gets colder.
What About Firewood?
If fires are allowed, use suitable dry firewood rather than burning random rubbish.
Don’t burn plastic, packaging, treated timber or materials that could produce harmful smoke.
You should also avoid taking wood from the surrounding countryside unless you know that doing so is permitted.
The simplest option is usually to use firewood supplied or approved by the campsite.
Keep your wood pile away from the fire itself. That way, sparks or stray flames aren’t immediately next to the rest of your fuel.
Keep the Area Around the Fire Clear
The fire isn’t the only thing you need to think about.
Keep bags, coats and other equipment out of the immediate area and remove anything that could easily catch fire.
If you’re camping somewhere with long or very dry grass, take extra care.
Don’t light a fire directly on dry vegetation.
This is another reason designated fire areas are preferable: they’ve usually been chosen with the surrounding conditions in mind.
Don’t Burn Rubbish on the Fire
It can seem convenient to throw packaging or other rubbish onto the fire once you’re finished with it.
Don’t.
Plastic packaging, tins, foil and other waste can create smoke, leave unwanted residue or scatter material around the campsite.
A campfire isn’t a rubbish bin.
Take your waste home or dispose of it using the arrangements provided by the campsite.
The Countryside Code advises visitors to take litter home and leave no trace of their visit.
How to Put Out a Campfire Properly
Putting out the fire is just as important as lighting it.
Don’t simply stop adding wood and assume the fire has gone out.
When you’re finished:
Stop adding fuel well before you plan to leave.
Allow the fire to burn down as much as practical.
Follow the campsite’s instructions for extinguishing the fire.
Slowly pour water over the remaining coals and embers.
Allow the water to cool everything thoroughly.
Continue adding water until there is no remaining heat, steam or smoke.
Make sure the ashes and surrounding area are completely cold before you leave.
The aim is not just to remove the visible flames.
The remaining embers and ashes need to be cold.
If the campsite provides specific instructions for its fire pits, follow those rather than deciding yourself how the ashes should be disposed of.
Don’t Assume the Fire Is Out
This is where people can get caught out.
A fire can look completely finished while there is still considerable heat underneath the ash.
Keep cooling the remaining embers until there is no heat, steam or smoke.
Don’t pick up or dispose of ashes while they are still hot.
If you’re following a campsite’s fire-pit instructions, leave the fire pit exactly as the site asks you to rather than removing the ashes yourself.
What If the Fire Gets Out of Control?
Don’t try to be a hero.
If a fire is spreading beyond the area you intended, move away and get help.
UK Government guidance advises people not to attempt to tackle an outdoor fire that is beyond what can safely be dealt with and to call 999 if there is a dangerous fire. Give the emergency services the clearest location information you can, such as a map reference or nearby landmark.
If you’re on a campsite, alert the campsite staff as soon as possible as well.
Your camping equipment is replaceable. Your safety isn’t.
Campfire Safety Around Children and Dogs
If you’re camping with children, set clear boundaries around the fire from the beginning.
Don’t rely on telling them to “be careful” once the fire is already burning.
Keep them away from the fire area and don’t leave children unsupervised around an open flame.
Dogs can also be unpredictable around fires. A dog that normally settles beside your chair may suddenly react to a spark or movement.
Keep pets under control and away from the fire.
A quiet evening around a fire should still leave you enough space to keep an eye on everyone.
Campfire Safety When You’ve Had a Few Drinks
This is worth mentioning because alcohol and open flames aren’t a particularly useful combination.
If you’re responsible for a campfire, keep enough of a clear head to manage it properly.
Don’t add more wood, move hot equipment or attempt to deal with a fire if you’re impaired.
The safest approach is to make sure the fire is properly extinguished before the evening gets too far along.
Campfire Safety Checklist
Before lighting
Check that fires are permitted
Follow campsite rules and local restrictions
Check the weather and wind
Use the designated fire area
Keep tents, vehicles and equipment away
Have water or the recommended extinguishing equipment nearby
Use suitable dry firewood
Keep children and pets away from the fire area
While the fire is burning
Keep it under control
Add fuel gradually
Never leave it unattended
Keep flammable items away
Don’t burn rubbish
Don’t use petrol or other flammable liquids
Never cook inside a tent
Keep an eye on changing weather conditions
Before leaving
Stop adding fuel
Extinguish the fire properly
Cool the embers and ashes with water
Continue until there is no remaining heat, steam or smoke
Make sure everything is completely cold
Follow the campsite’s instructions for the fire pit
Leave the area tidy
Campfire Safety FAQs
Can I have a campfire at a campsite?
It depends on the campsite.
Some allow fires in designated areas, while others do not allow them at all. Always check the site’s rules before lighting one.
Are campfires allowed in the countryside in the UK?
You should not assume that they are.
In England and Wales, the Countryside Code advises visitors not to light fires and to only use BBQs where signs say they are allowed. Local restrictions and site-specific rules can also apply.
Scotland has different countryside access arrangements, but that does not mean open fires are automatically appropriate or permitted everywhere. Check the local guidance and any restrictions before lighting one.
Can I use a campfire to cook?
If fires are permitted at your campsite and the fire is suitable for cooking, use appropriate cookware, keep the fire controlled and never leave cooking unattended.
For many camping trips, a portable stove is simpler and easier to control.
Can I burn rubbish on a campfire?
No. Take rubbish home or dispose of it using the campsite’s facilities.
How do I know when a campfire is completely out?
Don’t rely on the flames disappearing.
Cool the remaining embers and ashes with water and continue until there is no remaining heat, steam or smoke. Follow the campsite’s instructions for extinguishing and leaving the fire pit.
Can I have a campfire near my tent?
Only where fires are permitted, and the fire should be kept well away from tents and other flammable camping equipment.
Never cook inside a tent. UK Government fire safety guidance specifically warns against doing so.
What should I do if a campfire spreads?
Move away from the fire and get help.
If there is a dangerous outdoor fire, call 999 and give the emergency services the clearest location information you can. Do not attempt to tackle a fire that is beyond what can safely be extinguished.
A Campfire Should Be the Relaxing Part of the Evening
A good campfire doesn’t need to be huge, complicated or particularly impressive.
The important thing is that it is allowed, properly positioned and kept under control.
Take a few minutes to check the campsite rules, look at the weather and make sure you’ve got a sensible way of putting the fire out before you light it.
Then, once you’re sitting outside with dinner finished and the fire quietly burning down, you can actually enjoy it.
That’s really what good campfire safety comes down to: know when you can have a fire, keep it manageable, and don’t leave until you’re certain it’s completely out.