Check the rules before you arrive
Campfire safety starts long before you strike a match. According to Smokey Bear, abandoned or improperly extinguished campfires are a major cause of wildfires. That is why planning ahead matters. Smokey Bear’s campfire safety guide says to call or check online for fire restrictions before you go. Search for “fire restrictions” followed by your location, local parks and recreation organization, or public lands agency. Do not build a campfire or dig a fire pit if the campground, area, event rules, or local laws prohibit them.
The National Park Service also stresses checking rules ahead of time. Its “Before the Trip” page explains that parks have regulations on where fires are allowed and when you can have a fire. Some parks may not allow open fires, especially at certain points in the year. You may need to bring a camping stove if such conditions apply. Because those pages describe national parks, remember that rules can vary by park and campground. Always check the specific park or campground you plan to visit and ask rangers or hosts for current information.
Weather is another factor to check before building. Smokey Bear says not to build a campfire in hazardous, dry, or windy conditions. The National Park Service “Upon Arrival” page recommends asking a park ranger or campsite host about weather, including any rain, wind, snow, or extreme temperatures forecast that could affect your planned activity. Fire bans may be in effect depending on the park, season, and climate conditions.
For a broader look at staying safe outdoors, see our Camping Safety section and the Camping Safety Basics: Fire, Wildlife, First Aid and Emergencies article. If you are new to camping, the Camping for Beginners hub can help you prepare.
Choose a safe location
Where you place a fire matters as much as how you build it. Smokey Bear recommends picking an open and level area with an open overhead. Stay away from windy areas and avoid open fields where gusts can push flames or embers. Keep at least 15 feet from tents, vegetation, and low-hanging branches. You also need vertical clearance of at least 3 times the height of the flames.
Smokey Bear advises using an existing fire pit when one is available. Look for a pit that has a metal ring or rock circle. Whether you use an existing pit or make your own, ensure you have at least a 10-foot diameter around the site. If no existing pit is available, Smokey Bear says to dig your own pit about 1 foot deep. Place a metal fire ring around the fire to add a barrier. If you do not have a metal ring, circle the pit with rocks.
Leave No Trace offers similar guidance. Its “Minimize Campfire Impacts” page says to build a fire within an existing fire ring in an established campsite. Keep the fire small and burning only for the time you are using it. Avoid building fires next to rock outcrops where the black scars will remain for many years.
Leave No Trace also describes two alternatives when an established ring is not available. A fire pan should have at least three-inch-high sides and should be elevated on rocks or lined with mineral soil so the heat does not scorch the ground. A mound fire uses mineral soil, sand, or gravel spread into a circular, flat-topped mound at least 3 to 5 inches thick. The mound insulates the ground below from heat. The circumference of the mound should be larger than the size of the fire to allow for the spreading of coals.
Gather the right wood
Good firewood is dry, small, and gathered responsibly. Smokey Bear says to pick up small, dry sticks or logs not covered by leaves from the ground. Leaves retain moisture and are often important to insects and fungi. Never cut whole trees or branches, dead or alive. Live materials will not burn well, and dead, standing trees shelter birds and other wildlife.
Leave No Trace adds that standing trees, dead or alive, are home to birds and insects, so leave them intact. Fallen trees also provide bird and animal shelter, increase the soil’s water-holding capacity, and recycle nutrients back into the environment through decomposition. Avoid cutting or breaking branches from standing or downed trees. Dead and down wood burns quickly, is easy to collect, and leaves less impact. Use small pieces of wood, no larger than the diameter of an adult wrist, that can be broken with your hands.
Transporting firewood can spread invasive species. Leave No Trace says that purchasing or legally gathering wood from the ecosystem in which the campfire will be held is the preferred approach. Generally, wood sourced from within 50 miles of the final fire location will suffice, but it is wise to consult local land management agencies for guidance. Gather wood over a wide area away from camp, and use dry driftwood on rivers and seashores where appropriate.
If you are planning meals around the fire, our Camp Cooking Skills page and the Meal Planning guide can help you think through food preparation.
Build the fire step by step
Smokey Bear breaks campfire building into clear stages. Start with tinder: small twigs and dry leaves, grass, and needles. Next comes kindling, which Smokey Bear describes as sticks smaller than 1 inch around. Logs are the larger pieces of wood you add once the fire is going.
Pile tinder in the center of the fire pit. Smokey Bear describes several methods for laying kindling over the tinder. For cooking, a teepee layout means laying the kindling over the tinder like you are building a tent. A lean-to involves driving a long piece of kindling into the ground at an angle over the tinder, then leaning smaller pieces against it. For long-lasting campfires, a cross layout crisscrosses the kindling over the tinder. A log cabin layout surrounds the tinder pile with kindling, stacking pieces at right angles, then tops the “cabin” with the smallest kindling.
Ignite the tinder with a match or lighter. Smokey Bear is clear: never use flammable liquids. Blow lightly at the base of the fire, then add kindling and fuel slowly. Keep the fire small, not tall.
Before you build, make sure you have the right items on hand. Smokey Bear lists water, a bucket or large container, a shovel, and a metal fire ring as essential tools. Keep a cellphone nearby so you can call 911 immediately if your fire jumps from the pit to surrounding vegetation or if embers fly outside the fire.
Watch the fire at all times
A campfire is never a set-and-forget activity. Smokey Bear says to always be vigilant around your campfire. Do not play around it, and keep an eye on children and pets. Add larger pieces of dry wood to keep the fire going, but never burn trash or dangerous things such as aerosols, pressurized containers, batteries, glass, or aluminum.
Leave No Trace includes fire safety guidance on its “Minimize Campfire Impacts” page. Keep wood and other fuel sources away from the fire. Maintain a reasonable size when having a campfire. Keep sufficient water on hand in case of emergency. Provide adequate supervision for young people when using stoves or fires. Follow all product and safety labels for stoves.
Plastic items and foil-lined wrappers should never be burned on a campfire, according to Leave No Trace.
Families with young children may want to review our Family Camping page for more ideas on keeping kids safe and engaged around camp.
Put the fire out completely
Putting out a campfire takes more than a quick splash of water. Smokey Bear’s featured tip says that if your campfire is too hot to touch, it is too hot to leave. The recommended method is drown, stir, drown, and feel.
First, drown the fire. Pour lots of water on the fire until the hissing sound stops, drowning all the embers. Smokey Bear says not to extinguish a fire with just dirt or sand. Leave No Trace agrees: put out fires with water, not dirt, because dirt may not completely extinguish the fire.
Second, stir. Use your shovel to stir the water into the embers, dirt, and sand, and mix well. Scrape any sticks and logs until no embers are exposed or smoldering, not just the red ones.
Third, drown again. Continue adding water, dirt, and sand until all material is cool.
Finally, feel. Hover the back of your hand over the ashes to feel that the embers are cool. Do not leave without making sure your fire is entirely out.
Leave No Trace says to burn all wood and coals to ash, put out campfires completely, then scatter cool ashes. In backcountry areas, scatter the remains over a large area away from camp. Ashes may have to be packed out in river corridors. Replace soil where you found it when cleaning up a mound or pan fire. Scatter unused wood to keep the area as natural looking as possible, and pack out any litter.
For more on campsite setup and organization, see Campsite Organization and Tent Setup.
Campfire safety checklist
Use this table as a quick reference before, during, and after your fire. Each step comes directly from the sources cited.
| Step | What to do | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Check restrictions | Call or check online for fire restrictions before you go; do not build if prohibited. | Smokey Bear |
| Check weather | Do not build in hazardous, dry, or windy conditions. | Smokey Bear |
| Pick a spot | Open, level area; at least 15 feet from tents and vegetation; vertical clearance 3 times flame height. | Smokey Bear |
| Prepare the pit | Use an existing ring or dig a pit about 1 foot deep; keep a 10-foot diameter clear. | Smokey Bear |
| Gather wood | Use dead and down wood; never cut standing trees; buy local within 50 miles. | Smokey Bear; Leave No Trace |
| Build the fire | Layer tinder, kindling, and logs; never use flammable liquids. | Smokey Bear |
| Watch the fire | Never leave it unattended; supervise children and pets; keep water and a shovel ready. | Smokey Bear; Leave No Trace |
| Extinguish | Drown, stir, drown, and feel; use water, not dirt. | Smokey Bear; Leave No Trace |
| Clean up | Burn wood to ash, scatter cool ashes in backcountry, pack out litter. | Leave No Trace |
Frequently asked questions
How far should a campfire be from a tent?
Smokey Bear’s campfire safety guide says to stay at least 15 feet from tents, vegetation, and low-hanging branches. You also need vertical clearance of at least 3 times the height of the flames. Always check the specific rules for your campground, since local requirements may be stricter.
Can I put out a campfire with dirt or sand?
No. Smokey Bear says not to extinguish a fire with just dirt or sand. Leave No Trace also says to put out fires with water, not dirt, because dirt may not completely extinguish the fire. Use the drown, stir, drown, and feel method described by Smokey Bear.
What kind of wood should I use for a campfire?
Smokey Bear recommends gathering small, dry sticks or logs from the ground that are not covered by leaves. Leave No Trace says to use small pieces of wood, no larger than the diameter of an adult wrist, that can be broken with your hands. Never cut standing trees or branches, dead or alive.
For more guidance on fire safety and related topics, visit our Fire Safety category page.
