Starting a Fire when Camping … Where?

If your camping place doesn’t have a designated fire-area where you are supposed to make your fire, then it is very well possible that you are in a fire-prohibited area. First find out from the local authorities, or from fellow campers if it you are allowed to make a fire, before you may get into serious trouble.
If you are allowed to make a fire and there is no designated area available, be sensible about where you going to start your fire. Choose your location by taking a few factors into consideration first:

Wind   If a wind is blowing you should forget to make a fire altogether. Not only is this going to be a very unpleasant and strenuous operation, but also dangerous as you are unable to control sparks flying away. During daylight you might not see these sparks, but they are there, just as you would see them at night. Be aware that wind direction can suddenly change, often combined with a sudden gust.
With a little wind going, or non at all, your fire will probably at some time or other create quite unpleasant smoke, which you want to be blown away from you, not towards where you are sitingt, or where you are camping.

Area   You need an area to be clear of ‘everything’ for about 10 feet around your fire in all directions. Of course this area has to be increased a lot if you intend to build a large fire. Short ‘green’ grass also tends to set alight under right circumstances and can spread fire!
Overhanging branches from trees are very sensible to fire, remember heat is rising upwards. Best is you don’t make fire anywhere near a tree.
Your tent and vehicles are highly flammable and you should stay clear at least 20 feet from such items and objects.

The reason for having large clear spaces is not only because of the heat of the fire that might set something else alight, but also the sparks that fly up in the air (yeah, the ones that many people admire at night). These sparks are actually little fires themselves and a sudden change of wind can blow them straight onto your car, onto your tent, or onto other flamable objects close by.
Now before you take out your shovel and your axe to go wild and destroy what you actually came to admire here, also think about the people who will come to enjoy this camping-spot after you have left.
The marks that a fire leafs behind tend to be there for a while. It is not only the ashes that you see the next morning, but the intense heat from the fire sterilizes healthy soil and it will take months or even years before anything grows over that fire spot again.

The description here is only general. Please familiarize yourself with the rules of the area you are visiting before starting a fire. In the USA and most European countries strict rules apply to making fires in wilderness areas.

You are on holiday and you shouldn’t stress about all the things that could go wrong, but when it comes to making a fire you should think a little about it first and you will come to realize that:
* You probably don’t have fire extinguisher if you would need one,
* You probably don’t have a hosepipe with high-pressure water if you need that,
* If you call a fire brigade it will take a long time to find you.
This means, if your fire gets out of control, there will be very little you can do.
Therefore you should be very careful where and how you make a fire.

Never leave the fire unatended! Not even for a "moment". Conditions and circumstances in the wild are "wild". It is simply not the same as your barbque at home.

Before you depart: Always ensure the fire is completely extinguished before leaving the site. A  camping fire might look ‘dead’, but a sudden wind can bring embers back to heat and flame. Pour water over it while stirring the ashes with a stick. If it is still too hot to the touch, you are not done and need to pour more water.
Enjoy your Camping, have a safer experience by taking the necessary precautions when making a fire.