Fires, necessary or optional?

Submitted: Wednesday, Feb 02, 2011 at 21:21
ThreadID: 84072 Views:9126 Replies:36 FollowUps:52
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Every time we camp near others we notice how many people make getting the fire ready the first priority. We have fires occasionally, but usually keep them small. There's no doubt a fire is a part of the whole outdoor-camping scenario and seen as iconic in the outdoor world. Question is, why? Okay, I'm being a little facetious, the answer is obvious. But is it essential? And, given the fact most fires are inappropriate, can the use of camp fires become an occasional event, something of a celebration rather than a necessity?

Apart from bringing your own "green grown" timber (plantation), using local wood for burning is unarguably bad for the environment, depriving sometimes struggling species of habitat and cover. This is especially true of desert areas, yet how many pictures of groups surrounding the roaring fire do you see in posts on remote desert treks? We've often observed people setting up camp, starting a blaze then walking off and doing other things! Why?

Not suggesting all campfires should be banned (though there are clear precedents for some areas and times) but can anyone see a way to get people to treat campfires as an exception, rather than a rule? Or am I going to get blasted as a do-gooder greenie politically correct moron? Reality is, you are going to find more and more "no woodfire" campsites, and this is probably a good thing, but can we adjust, or blame others for "more rules"?


Cheers, (from the almost the driest, least forested continent)

Mark
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