Campfire

A campfire is a fire lit at a campsite, usually in a fire ring. Campfires are a popular feature of camping, particularly among organized campers such as Boy Scouts or Girl Scouts, but they are also potentially dangerous and not easy to build or keep going.

Campfires are prohibited in many public camping areas. Areas with large areas of woodland are also usually posted for fire danger and when the danger is highest due to lack of rain, all open fires are prohibited. Even in safer times, it is common to require registration and permits to burn a campfire. Such areas are often viewed by rangers[?], who will dispatch someone to investigate any unidentified plume of smoke.

Campfires may be used for simple recreation, or for cooking. (The latter use is covered in cooking on a campfire). People tend to find something fascinating about flames and glowing coals, so a campfire is a good pastime, particularly for those in a pensive mood. Campfires are also good venues for intimate conversation and the telling of stories; stories about ghosts are particularly popular. Another traditional campfire activity involves impaling marshmallows on sticks or uncoiled coat hangers, and roasting them over the fire.

Related topics

• How to light a fire
• Cooking on a campfire
• Camping