How to Build a Fire Pit for Cooking While Camping
Preparing food while hiking in the back country provides one of the more endearing challenges of the wilderness experience. Many campers rely on ready-made foods that don't require cooking, or bring small camp stoves and fuel along in their packs. But some campers prefer the smell and heat of a true fire in the outdoors. Safety is the primary concern when building a fire while camping. The National Interagency Fire Center reported in 2009 that human-caused fires destroyed more than 2 million acres of wildlands in the United States. Safety measures are essential for preventing forest fires.
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Instructions
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Place your campfire in an area away from winds and free from hanging branches, leaves or dry brush. The U.S. Forest Service recommends creating a fire pit at least 15 feet away from any flammable materials, including tents. A spot near a river bed or in the sand is ideal.
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Clear a patch of ground at least 10 feet in diameter, down to the bare earth, using a small shovel or trowel. Remove any small twigs and dry leaves or grasses from the fire pit area.
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Dig a wide hole into the ground, about one foot deep, with the shovel or trowel and line the rim of the pit with medium to large rocks. This allows a windbreak for the fire. If you do not have a small trowel for digging, use a sharp rock or sturdy stick for breaking up the ground.
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Collect a full container of water and keep it close to the fire in case the flames become too large too contain within the fire pit. Also have a mound of soft dirt or sand available for quickly smothering the flames.
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Tips & Warnings
Check with the ranger station for information regarding current conditions and fire hazards. In some parts of the country, back-country fires are prohibited during certain times of the year regardless of how careful your preparation is.
Never leave a campfire unattended, even briefly.
Extinguish a campfire completely by dousing it with water, stirring it and dousing it again. Do not leave the site until you can feel all materials with your bare hands.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit camp fireplace image by Dubravko Grakalic from Fotolia.com
