You’re Probably Extinguishing Your Campfire Wrong — and There Could Be Legal Ramifications

When I think back to childhood camping trips, I remember the soft glow of fireflies, the crisp night air, and the comforting warmth of a crackling campfire. Never once did my grade-school mind consider the dangers of wildfires — or even give much thought to the fire itself. More often than not, I’d drift off to sleep with its embers still flickering in the background and wake up to cold ashes. Taking care of the fire was someone else’s responsibility. Thanks, Mom and Dad.

To be fair, would you trust these children with the responsibility of a fire? I am the one that looks like I light fires for fun (right).

As an adult, I’m often stunned by how many people — both friends and strangers — treat extinguishing a campfire with the same carelessness I did as a seven-year-old. According to the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC), humans are responsible for 90% of wildfires.

While fire is a natural part of many ecosystems, the scale and frequency of modern wildfires are anything but. Unchecked flames have led to widespread destruction, loss of life, and billions of dollars in property damage and firefighting costs — much of it preventable by taking simple steps like properly extinguishing a campfire.

The Case Against Wildfires

The perfect solution with the lowest wildfire risk is, obviously, not having a fire in the first place. Many long-distance hikers, ultralight backpackers, and Leave No Trace advocates discourage campfires except in emergencies or designated areas. 

Not only do campfires significantly raise the risk of wildfires — an errant ember can start a blaze that spreads uncontrollably in dry and windy conditions — but building campfires also contributes to local resource depletion. 

In alpine environments, where trees grow slowly and organic matter takes decades to decompose, stripping the landscape of fallen branches and logs deprives the soil of nutrients vital for plant growth. In deserts, scarce vegetation provides critical shelter and sustenance for wildlife, and removing it can accelerate erosion and habitat loss.

Even in more temperate forests, excessive firewood gathering can deplete the understory, reduce habitat for insects and small animals, and increase the risk of soil degradation. Over time, popular camping areas can become barren as they are stripped of the deadwood that would otherwise nourish the forest floor.

Most thru-hikers carry very efficient stoves that will boil water faster than a campfire will, and are likely arriving to camp too late/going to sleep too early to truly enjoy the ambiance. I personally don’t see the need for a campfire while on a long trail. Photo: Steven Miller

Many public lands, including some national parks and national forests, have seasonal or permanent fire bans due to extreme wildfire danger and concerns about overuse of the land’s resources. Obviously, however, building a campfire is a cherished outdoor tradition for many, and people will still do so when legal.

I wish it were as easy as getting on my high horse and saying, “don’t ever make a campfire!”, but who am I to deprive you of the memories I remember so fondly from my childhood?

If you’re set on building a campfire, you are assuming 100% of the responsibility for extinguishing the campfire safely, completely, and without the change of ember reignition. 

How to Properly Extinguish a Campfire

If you’ve made the choice to have a fire, you owe it to the land, the wildlife, and the firefighters who must otherwise risk their lives to fix your mistake to ensure it is completely out before you leave. A fire that looks harmless can still smolder beneath the surface, reigniting hours or even days later with a gust of wind. Follow these steps to make sure your fire is 100% out — no excuses.

Step 1: Stop Feeding the Fire Early

Long before you plan to put out your fire, stop adding wood and allow the flames to die down naturally. A pile of half-burned logs and embers will take much longer to extinguish than a bed of fine ash. Letting the fire burn down as much as possible minimizes the effort needed to put it out.

Step 2: Drown the Fire With Water

You need a lot more water than you think. Slowly pour water directly onto the fire, covering all embers, coals, and partially burned wood. Steam will rise, and you’ll hear a loud hissing sound — this is good. If you don’t have access to a large water source, plan ahead and bring extra. Without enough water, you’re setting yourself up for failure.

Step 3: Stir the Ashes and Add More Water

Using a shovel, stick, or any sturdy tool, stir the ashes thoroughly to expose hidden embers. Many people stop at pouring water on the surface, but embers can stay hot deep in the ash bed. Continue adding water and stirring until everything is saturated. Don’t stop just because it looks wet. Dig in and make sure every part of the ash and wood is wet.

An Eldorado National Forest ranger uses a 5-gallon bucket to extinguish an illegal campfire. Err on the side of pouring too much water on your campfire. You can’t easily cause a flood, but you can easily cause a wildfire. Photo: Pacific Southwest Forest Service

Step 4: Feel for Heat

A fire can still be hot even if you don’t see flames. Hold the back of your hand just above the ashes — if you feel any warmth, the fire is not out. Keep adding water and stirring until the ashes are cool to the touch. If you couldn’t comfortably place your bare hand in the ashes, you’re not done.

Step 5: Check the Surrounding Area

Look beyond the fire ring. Sparks can land outside your immediate fire area, igniting dry grass, leaves, or roots. Feel the ground around the fire to ensure no hidden heat remains. If you find a warm spot, repeat the water and stirring process in that area.

Step 6: Scatter the Ashes (If Appropriate)

In some areas, particularly when camping in the backcountry, it may be best to disperse the cooled ashes over a wide area to minimize visual impact. In designated fire rings, leave the cold ashes in place. Either way, never leave behind partially burned wood, trash, or food scraps.

The Final Test: Is It Really Out?

Before leaving, triple-check your fire. If the ashes are cool, there are no visible embers, and the ground around the fire is cold, you’ve done your job. If not, keep adding water and stirring until there is zero chance of reignition.

Wildfires don’t start because someone tried to be careless. They happen because people assume their fire is out when it isn’t. Don’t be one of those people. If you can’t put it out properly, or if these steps feel like too much of a hassle to you, don’t build a fire in the first place.

The Potential Consequences

You go camping, build a fire, pour some water on it until the sizzling stops, get back in your car, and drive away. Unfortunately for you, your fire wasn’t properly extinguished. Twelve hours later, a gust of wind reignites a buried, smoldering ember. The ember blows onto some nearby dry grass, and a blaze quickly follows.

This is what investigators believe caused the Interlaken Fire near Twin Lakes, Colorado in early June of 2024. The wildfire shut down a section of the Continental Divide and Colorado trails, burned 704 acres, and was not contained until June 24th. A search immediately for the creator of the campfire has yet to bear fruit.

I have to wonder — does the firestarter even realize they were the cause of all this devastation, or did they assume their halfhearted attempt at extinguishing their fire was enough and never even consider the possibility of reignition?

A wildfire burning in June south of Leadville in Lake County’s Interlaken Historic District. (Photo courtesy of the U.S. Forest Service)

When you start a fire, you’re taking on a legal obligation that can have serious consequences if the fire escapes control. Should your campfire, through negligence or carelessness, spark a wildfire, you can be held fully responsible for the ensuing damage.

In 2011, two cousins pleaded guilty to multiple misdemeanor offenses (including leaving a fire without completely extinguishing it) and were ordered to pay $3.7 million in restitution to victims after their abandoned campfire sparked the largest wildfire in Arizona’s history, the Wallow Fire.

Courts have consistently ruled that failure to properly extinguish a fire constitutes reckless behavior, making you liable not only for property damage and environmental degradation but also for any injuries or losses that occur as a result.

To Sum It Up

Don’t be stupid. Put out your fires. It just boils down to that.

Featured image: Marc-Lautenbacher, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons