ATV camping and campfires kinda go hand-in-hand. Always check with the area you will be camping at to find out if there are any fire restrictions. Campfires become problems when campers fail to properly extinguish all flame sources before leaving their campsite. If there are fire restrictions, don’t let that stop you from having a good time, just preform all of your cooking on a camping stove or grill.
If campfires are allowed it just adds to the overall enjoyment of the camping trip. Campfires have a psychological calming effect and have a way of making us feel safe and secure. But with a campfire comes the responsibility of keeping it under control and completely extinguishing it when leaving.
Use existing fire pits whenever possible and keep a ten foot diameter around the fire cleared of any brush, wood or other flammable materials. Use only downed timber for firewood, do not cut down any trees without permission from the local authorities or forest service. Cut firewood into lengths that will fit inside the fire pit. Never leave a fire unattended!
Use the campfire to burn any trash from your trip. It is a good idea to throw all empty open cans into the fire to burn any remaining contents out, this will eliminate keeping a smelling trash bag around the campsite that will attracts animals.
Important Note: Remove all the cans and any unburnt trash when the fire is extinguished and pack them out, back to your vehicle. Leave the campsite better than you found it!
When it is time to extinguish the campfire, drown out the fire and coals completely with water, then using a shovel mix some dirt in with the coals and remove any unburnt trash. Add more water and continue stirring the dirt, coals and water together until you have a muddy mixture of dirt and coals.
Properly extinguishing your campfire helps prevents back country wildfires and allows future enjoyment for other campers. Set an example to others you camp with and help preserve our natural forest and back country.
After a long day of riding, fishing or hiking, it’s great to just sit around the campfire after dinner and relax and tell stories about the days events and past events. On your next ATV camping adventure obey any fire restrictions for the area and if you are able to have a campfire, enjoy it responsibly.
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