Expedition Essentials: Forest Wildfire Prevention Skills 101

In light of the toxic fumes engulfing the Detroit area right now, here's a short guide on how to effectively and safely enjoy a campfire - without starting a wildfire that engulfs our entire corner of the Great Lakes region.

In case you've been living under a rock this past week, you've probably realized that things have become a little smokey around Detroit. Scratch that, our environment has become dangerously smokey. Yesterday, Detroit's air quality at one point ranked second-worst in the world, topped out only by the horrid atmospheric conditions in New Delhi, India. The cumulative apocalyptic effect of two wildfires in northern Michigan, plus the 150 wildfires that are currently burning in Quebec, have prompted public health officials to encourage outdoor use of N95 masks again.

Yeah. For the next few days, we're back to those kinds of messages again.

Here's the uncomfortable truth about all of this: as experts continue to expect global temperatures to rise, the likelihood of widespread wildfires is predicted to rise in tandem. Dryer than normal conditions means that environment turns into natural tinder, ready to ignite from even the most minuscule of sources - cigarette butts, sparks from dangling trailer chains, overheated landscaping equipment, and certainly careless campfire starters. Beyond the hazy skies and Star Wars-esque orange sunsets, this wildfire smoke causes a litany of health issues. Shortness of breath, an elevated pulse, chest pain, inflammation in the eyes, nose, and throat, and even long-term health issues like cancer or lung disease.

At this point, some astute readers may note that wildfires are, and always have been, a natural occurrence that provides undisputed value to most ecosystems. Fair point, but such natural fires are carefully monitored by forestry professionals in our modern, science-driven conservation operations. The goal for EVERY human-made fire, ESPECIALLY when inadvertently started, is to suppress the fire as quickly as possible - ideally before it even starts.

The alternative looks something like this:

Current smoke cover over the Great Lakes region; photo courtesy of the National Weather Service

Here in Michigan, our most recent 2,400-acre wildfire near Grayling started with a campfire. In fact, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources reports that 90% of our wildfires result from human negligence, largely due to the burning of yard debris.

In other words, proper fire maintenance education is sorely needed across North America - and especially in the Great Lake region right now. Fortunately for all of us, sparking, enjoying, and extinguishing campfires really isn't too difficult of a skill to master. Simple enough to fit into a short article.

Here's a quick #ExpeditionEssentials overview of the best practices for building a campfire that won't evolve into a region-wide wildfire:

1. BUILD OR FIND AN EXISTING FIRE RING

This first step may come off as a no-brainer, but the jaw-dropping amount of charred logs that I've stumbled across just off trail - often times surrounded by combustible pine needles and NO ring - demonstrates that this knowledge is far from common. If your campground has an established fire ring, then you're all set - just remember to actually use the ring.

If you find yourself in a backcountry situation for where starting a fire is necessary for survival (e.g., warmth, boiling water, or cooking food), then you should build your fire ring by initially finding a dozen or so first-sized rocks. The diameter of the fire ring shouldn't be larger than 2 feet. Remember, every campfire should serve a purpose, and this one's limited purpose should be to warm, boil, and/or cook - not to blaze unruly. Building a smaller fire ring forces you to build a more controllable fire, which is a critical initial step in preventing forest fires.

2. PREPARE BEFORE YOU SPARK

There are two key elements to the preparation phase of any quality campfire. The first centers on the are around the fire ring that you just built or discovered. I like to walk around the fire ring - let's say a radius of at least 6 feet - and either gather clearly flammable, natural debris for my fire OR moving such debris away from my fire ring. Beyond utilizing this step to gather tinder (e.g., cottony fungi, dry leaves, dead grass, and leftover charred firewood) and kindling (small, dry, and dead sticks) for building the fire, the goal here is also prevent a stray spark from igniting a highly-combustible material laying just outside of your ring.

You should also start to gather your fuel wood during this step. Fuel wood comprises of larger sticks and logs that measure up to roughly the size of your wrist or larger. Look for dry and dead sticks or branches - you should never break off live branches for your fire due to both Leave No Trace principles and the impracticality of burning live substances filled with moisture.

A good trick for testing whether a larger branch is good for burning is to break it in half. If you can't break it and you don't have an axe or hatchet with you, then it's probably too large for your fire ring. If you can break it, then the sound of the break should crackle like a burning log. In other words, if it sounds like a burning log, then it will act like a burning log.

3. BUILD AN INCREMENTAL FIRE

One of our favorite pieces of advice for arduous trekking is "Slow is smooth and smooth is fast." The same advice applies for building an effective, sustainable campfire: start slow with igniting your tinder, smoothly and gradually feed the flame with your kindling, and then you will be able to quickly build the flame to your desired extent with your fuel wood.

The key here is patience. I've watched far too many experienced outdoor enthusiasts fail to build a proper campfire due to their desire to build a roaring flame as quickly as possible. I've also seen aspirational fire builders give up far too early due to their impatience with the apparent ineffectiveness of their kindling or fuel wood. Assuming that you followed Step #2 to the letter, then proper wood placement technique, oxygen, and patience is all that you need to crush this critical component of building a campfire.

When it comes to technique, the simplest way to build a fire consists of the time-tested "teepee" structure. Once your tinder has caught a flame, slowly and carefully place your kindling over the budding fire in a consistently conical shape, with the tips of the kindling pointing towards the flame. This is the most important step in building a sustainable fire. If done correctly, the flame will organically grow with each new addition to the teepee. If done poorly, you'll suffocate the fire and lose your precious tinder. Take your time, fan the flame with comically slow, steady breaths as needed, and gradually add increasingly larger sticks to the growing fire as it grows. You'll know that you've done this step correctly when the core of your fire maintains a blue and incomprehensibly hot central furnace.

4. ENJOY THE FIRE

If you've reached this point in the process, then your fire is fully-ablaze and ready to serve its purpose. Your diligent preparation and execution has paid off tremendously. Your initial spark is now capable of warming your body, purifying your water, and cooking your food. Or simply entertaining you and your friends.

Enjoy this moment. Allow the hypnotizing flames to put your mind at ease. Sit back and tell stories, build s'mores, crack another trail brew. Experience the primal sensation of accomplishment that successful fires have ignited since the dawn of man.

Yes, if your goal is to keep your fire running for hours, then you will habitually need to gather more fuel wood. But don't be that person that never actually enjoys the fruits of their labor because they're frantically darting into the woods every ten seconds to gather more wood. Be present; enjoy the fire.

5. EXTINGUISH YOUR FIRE

Alas, friends - all good things most come to an end, and it's time to say goodnight and goodbye to your precious fire. THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT STEP FOR YOUR SAFETY AND THE WELL-BEING OF OUR NATURAL ENVIRONMENT. So, if you've tuned out at all during this article, then TUNE BACK IN.

Extinguishing your fire should start long before you actually intend on leaving the fire ring - let's say at least 30 minutes before your desired departure. For example, if you plan on being back at your tent around 10 p.m., then your last piece of fuel wood should enter the fire ring no later than 9:30 p.m. Resist the human urge to keep that flame alive. It's time has come, and watching it whither naturally means less work for you in the near future.

Once the flames have completely died out, your next task will be to extinguish the coals. Use a stick to break-up any still-hot coals into smaller pieces, spread them around the fire ring, and then pour water on the coals to make sure that they're completely out (yes, peeing on the coals works here too).

Here are a few helpful reminders for this critical step in the campfire process:

• When in doubt, drown the coals out. Add as much water as you can to ensure that the coals are extinguished. Pour until the hissing sound stops.

• Mix It Up. While adding water, also feel free to add dirt or sand to the soupy mix. Stir with a shovel until all materials are cool. If you do not have water, stir dirt or sand into the embers with a shovel to help cool the fire. Do not bury the fire.

• If it’s too hot to touch, it’s too hot to leave. The hot exterior of your fire ring can cause nearby dry grass to catch fire. Don't forget to also put water on your fire ring.

Stay safe out there, friends - camping season is just kicking off, and we can't wait to see you out there soon!

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This article references information originally published in Surviving the Great Outdoors by Brendan Leonard (2017). Phenomenal book for recreationists of all experience levels!