Camp Fire Smoke

[Johnnie-HILO]

I owned a travel trailer from 1977 to 1985. After the kids grew up camping didn't quite seem the same, and we sold the trailer. I am retired now and I convinced my wife that we should go camping again. In our discussions, I found out one of the main reasons my wife doesn't like camping is the smoke from the camp fires. The smoke doesn't bother me that much, I have been known to smoke a good cigar occasionally. What I am curious about is, in many states smoking is being outlawed everywhere. in some places, there is movements to outlaw smoking in public parks. If smoking is outlawed, where do camp fires fit in? My wife doesn't mind so much, the camp fire, but it's smoldering smoke for hours afterward. I hope I don't stir up too much of a controversy.

 

[RichR]

Campfires are considered a part of camping, in my opinion. But common sense and consideration for others is also a part of camping. Smoke from campfires is fine if it is pure woodsmoke and it is not drifting into some other campsite. We were camped in a campground one time and the neighbors had a very smokey smoldering fire which included their garbage and they couldn't help but see that the smoke was drifting into our popup. They allowed it to smolder into the late evening hours. Later our nephew woke up up vomiting from the effects of the smoke. We were too polite to ask them to extinguish the fire. If I saw that happening with my fire I would put it out and definitely would not be burning trash. I certainly hope the government never catches on to this, they could make a bad thing worse. Restrictions on moving firewood into campgrounds due to insect infestations has reduced some campfire activity in our area.

That is why I don't care to stay in campgrounds unless we are traveling, the sites are too close and there are too many inconsiderate people.

I prefer our 100 acre property with a giant fire ring that is a good distance away from our trailers. We cut our own firewood from the property and don't have to worry about the insects. We are borderline hermits I think.

 

[JMDoering]

Hi Johnnie,

I understand and share your dilemma. We've camped in locations (typically privately owned RV parks) where the campsites really are too close together to allow camp fires, and yet there is the fire pit. Most State and national camp grounds are better because of the greater distance between campsites. Both my wife and I enjoy a campfire smoke from a distance, and will occasionally build our own... yes, having a fire can be a part of the camping experience, but both of hate having a neighbor build a smokey one right next to us (as in 10 feet away). Like Rich, we tend to be too polite to tell people to extinguish (unless the camper has clearly created a dangerous situation).

We avoid the situation as much as possible by going to campgrounds that have greater space between sites, or camping where fires are not permitted except in specified areas (those usually being in fire circles away from campsites).

This past summer we camped at a private RV Camp on the Lake Huron shore just east of Mackinaw City, MI. The camp did not permit fires in the campsites, but compensated by their quick willingness to set up a portable fire pit down by the water and even provide wood! The experience was much better than a campsite fire... Watching the sun set behind the Mackinaw Bridge, while enjoying a warm fire, and watching the lights from Mackinaw Island dance across the Strait was an experience I'll never forget!

Hopefully, if any of our HTF members weren't aware that not all of us enjoy camping on top of their fires, they will hence be more sensitive about where they make a fire and what they burn.

Jim

 

[boater454]

I prefer our 100 acre property with a giant fire ring that is a good distance away from our trailers. We cut our own firewood from the property and don't have to worry about the insects. We are borderline hermits I think. [/QUOTE]


Rich - You should open a campground with 10 acre sites for each camper! I'd stay there!

 

[RichR]

I don't think that will happen, but there would be lots of space for sure.

 

[sam-HILO]

Campfire smoke

Camping World sells a propane device that looks like a campfire. Very expensive. I wouldn,t buy because of the price. The concept is good for a smokeless fire.