Putting Out Fire Pits
You can’t leave your campfire burning while you’re away from it, so you need to know how to put out a fire pit. Whether you use water or snuff out your campfire out with sand or earth, it’s important to make sure it’s completely extinguished. Doing this right will leave no trace and the area will look just as it did when you arrived.
It’s important to know how to put out a fire pit before you start your campfire. Leaving your camping spot as tidy as you found it is an integral part of camping. Leave a spot tidy and the next people who come along to enjoy it are more likely to do the same.
It is usually a good idea to have something on hand at all times to extinguish your fire. This simple safety step can prevent your fire from spreading accidentally.
There are a number of ways to put out your fire. We’re going to look at how to safely use water and earth or sand to extinguish a fire. We will also talk about how to safely let your fire burn out.
How to Put Out a Fire in a Fire Pit
When you think of how to put out a fire in a fire pit, the one method that always comes to mind is to pour water on it. The water cools and smothers the fire at the same time. The amount of water you need will depend on the size of your fire.
Pouring too much water on at once usually leads to plumes of steam as it evaporates. This steam which rises can get dangerously hot and can even scald. Instead, pour your water on slowly and make sure you cover every part of the fire.
If your fire has a lot of embers, you may have to shuffle them about with a stick before pouring more water on. Otherwise, the heart of your fire might retain enough heat to start burning again after you leave.
How to Put Out a Fire Pit Without Water
If water is precious where you’re camping, you won’t want to waste it on putting out your fire. Pouring sand or earth over your campfire will quickly snuff out the flames.
Once you have poured your sand over the fire, make sure it has fully gone out. Some hotter fires can smolder underground and may need time to cool properly.
If you use dirt to cover your fire, make sure it is free from twigs or leaves which could catch alight.
How to Safely Let a Campfire Burn Out?
There are times when we may want to just let our campfire burn itself out. If you plan to rekindle the fire the following morning, you won’t want to extinguish it with dirt or water.
If you want to let your campfire burn itself out, stop adding wood a while before you go to bed. It’s never a good idea to leave any fire that is still burning with flames.
Surround your fire pit with rocks to prevent combustible material from catching. Push the embers into the middle of the fire to stop any spread. This also contains the heat safely and gives you good embers to restart the fire the following morning.
Tips for Putting Out a Fire Pit
Here are a few tips that help to put out a fire safely.
- Preparation is key. Select a site near a riverbank or lake so you have access to plenty of water. Pebble rivers banks are the safest, but sand or mud is also okay.
- If you plan to use dirt, you can dig a hole for your fire pit and bury your campfire to extinguish it. Alternatively, dig a hole nearby and have enough earth or sand ready to put your fire out.
- Spread the embers out if you plan to extinguish your fire with sand or water. Spreading the embers cools them quicker.
- Avoid inhaling any toxic smoke as you put out your firepit.
How to Check if Your Fire Pit is Safely Extinguished?
Even if your fire is extinguished, you should check it is fully cooled before leaving it. Wait several minutes after pouring water or sand on your fire then check for smoke and feel for heat.
Moving the embers around is a good way to check whether the fire is still burning. And glowing embers should be snuffed out. If you’re not sure, throw some dry grass on your fire and see whether it shrivels up. If it does, your fire is too hot to leave unattended.
How to Leave No Trace
You should always aim to leave as little trace as possible at your campsite and this includes your fire. Reducing the impact of your fire can be difficult, but there are some simple steps to follow.
Clear the area before you start your campfire. Circle your campfire with rocks to contain embers. This prevents any embers from igniting leaves or other flammable material around your fire.
Scorch marks on the ground or against trees are telltale signs of a campsite. Avoid having your campfire near or against tree stumps, either living or dead. Digging a pit for your fire and burying the embers when you finish is an effective way to prevent scorch marks.
