Fire un-lighting...the vital, boring chore of wood craft

misanthropist

misanthropist

Joined
Jan 28, 2007
Messages
1,236
One thing I don't ever remember talking about on here is putting fires out! Maybe we've all covered it, or maybe we all think it's so elementary it's never been discussed, but I think it's very important. In fact, when I start camping with other people, this is usually the first skill I try to teach them, and it's definitely the first big "educational" focus of any camping trip with newbies.

Where I live we have pretty frequent forest fires, and so proper technique for putting them out is pretty important. Here's about what I generally do:

I slowly pour about a gallon of water on the fire, then wait a minute and get more water. Then I start pouring it on about a liter (quart) at a time, poking a long, sharpish stick into the ground.

I do this for about ten minutes, poking thoroughly into the soil and mixing in water until I can stick my hand down into the soil underneath where the fire was comfortably. A fire that's been going for a few days can heat the dirt underneath up at least a good foot below the surface, and I want to make sure that the whole thing is absoutely 100% out before I go.

What do you all do? How important do you think fire extinguishing is? Have you ever considered it as a seperate skill? Should it get more coverage, seeing as we devote a major percentage of this board to fire lighting?
 
I'm sure most people think it is so easy that it doesn't need discussion.

I'm equally sure forest fires have resulted due to people with that attitude.
 
I know I've seen people kick sand on a fire an leave it, but that just lets it sit untill its uncoverd by wind and starts a fire.
 
I pretty much do the same as you. Forest fires aren't a big problem here in the north east, but it still is a good idea to be sure that the fire is completely out.

When I went camping with the family a month ago, there were a few empty campsites with the fire pits still smouldering. I hope those people don't plan on visiting the west coast anytime soon.
 
I usually dig a small hole or trench for my fire so I can cover it up afterward without anybody knowing it was there. Kind of a 'leave no trace' idea but I also build fires in a lot of places that I'm not supposed to. :D

When using a fire to cook, I am frugal with my fuel and only use what I think I'll need. When my food is done, I spread everything out and let it cool down a bit.

When I'm cleaning up, I pour water on, stir it up and let it sit some more. Repeat as necessary until the coals are cool to the touch.

Put dirt back in hole, pack down tight and cover with natural debris that I moved to make the hole.
 
I've had some pretty big bonfires over the summer right in my open backyard, and even though I'll douse it in gallons of water and mix it around till its practically mud...there have been times when it's still smoldering or even relit in the morning. Its amazing how much heat, logs or the ground can internally contain and start a fire again with wet coals.
 
It's not much of a problem this time of year where I live.....keepin em in is the hard part !!!
 
I've usually drank enough to piss my firepit down. I just have to remember when it's been an all night alchy-fest. (Ouch)JK:D

Seriously, I do something similar to the OP. It has to be cold before I leave it.:thumbup:
 
In mors korchanskis Bushcraft book he goes into this in detail.. He reccomends pulling out all partially burned wood and extinguishing it seperately and before lighting the fire bordering a ring around it by slicing into the ground with a shovel this severs any root ends thhat might bring a smolder away from the fire.. he than follows similar steps to Misanthropists.
 
I douse the fire after it has burned down thaen stir it up and poke at it to make sure it is out. I double check it before I leave and cover remains. If not using a fire ring, I triple check it.
 
I find that one of the keys to proper wilderness fire usage is planning.

After an overnighter, or even more importantly after several days camping in the same spot; planning your fire management to burn out the remaining coals is paramount.

Don’t add any big fuel toward the end, if fuel is needed make it small, fast burning stuff.

Use your fire stick to stir the fire and expose the unburned coals to oxygen, get them to burn out while you’re still in camp.

Exposed coals will flash and burn pretty quickly, continue to stir the fire to expose buried coals; better to burn the fuel while you’re tending the pit then to have the potential of it relighting after you finally douse it.

When dousing the use plenty of water if available; if little water is available, planning is even more important.

Finally a good layer of dirt is the best way to ensure things will not re-ignite, and don’t use duff or topsoil, the organic matter it contains is usually combustible; use sand or clay to cover the doused fire.
 
I don't usually need to pay much attention to it here for the most part. I don't need to really. I have seen one go wrong though. Moons ago an amigo and I did a fairly causal roam for a few days. Not really an in the sticks thing, but much of the area is countryside and we bivvied up whatever bit of woods at night. The fire that went wrong was in a little clump of trees outside Goonhilly Down Satelillite Earth Station. That really sucked. I'd never seen a fire burrow like that. The ring of burning needles just kept expanding as it kept digging down amongst the roots. We spent 24hrs resisting the strong urge to bail on that. We were not supposed to be there and the Chinooks were constantly so close over head as they went in and out of the Earth Station. Yup, 24 hrs with all available liquids donated to the cause, and a horrible pit of embers and piss soup with much stomping up and down and thrashing at with an ax. Not good. Lessons learned.
 
Big Mike said:
I find that one of the keys to proper wilderness fire usage is planning.

After an overnighter, or even more importantly after several days camping in the same spot; planning your fire management to burn out the remaining coals is paramount.

Don’t add any big fuel toward the end, if fuel is needed make it small, fast burning stuff.

Use your fire stick to stir the fire and expose the unburned coals to oxygen, get them to burn out while you’re still in camp.

Exposed coals will flash and burn pretty quickly, continue to stir the fire to expose buried coals; better to burn the fuel while you’re tending the pit then to have the potential of it relighting after you finally douse it.

When dousing the use plenty of water if available; if little water is available, planning is even more important.

Finally a good layer of dirt is the best way to ensure things will not re-ignite, and don’t use duff or topsoil, the organic matter it contains is usually combustible; use sand or clay to cover the doused fire.
Click to expand...


BigMike, I totally agree! it's much easier to douse a fire that has pretty much burned out. In the morning we stir and bank any coals,
and add small stuff to the fire, just enough to make some quick heat to warm us and perhaps cook something.

Then we stir several times, getting that air into the coals makes them burn hotter, and use up their remaining carbon.
Then last, we spread them out flat. This allows the heat to disperse and rise out of the fuel.

After allowing the fire to burn itself out, it's much easier and safer to give it a final douse, and uses far less water.
 
TFin04 said:
I usually dig a small hole or trench for my fire so I can cover it up afterward without anybody knowing it was there. Kind of a 'leave no trace' idea but I also build fires in a lot of places that I'm not supposed to. :D

When using a fire to cook, I am frugal with my fuel and only use what I think I'll need. When my food is done, I spread everything out and let it cool down a bit.

When I'm cleaning up, I pour water on, stir it up and let it sit some more. Repeat as necessary until the coals are cool to the touch.

Put dirt back in hole, pack down tight and cover with natural debris that I moved to make the hole.
Click to expand...


That what I tend to do.:thumbup:
 
RescueRiley said:
In mors korchanskis Bushcraft book he goes into this in detail.. He reccomends pulling out all partially burned wood and extinguishing it seperately and before lighting the fire bordering a ring around it by slicing into the ground with a shovel this severs any root ends thhat might bring a smolder away from the fire.. he than follows similar steps to Misanthropists.
Click to expand...



Thats kind of what I do. Generally I take the partially burned wood and throw it in the river/lake.
 
I tend to try and burn up most of the remaining coals and wood. What is left is usually easily extinguished by water, smashing, and dirt. If a coal won't cool with water, I try to crush it with a rock or the fire stick, as then it will be easier to cool.

Note: Don't piss on the fire. The smell is awful.
 
Most fires I make are on the smallish side and are relatively easy to put out.

Good food for thought in this thread though.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top