Light My Fire, Pros and cons of having campfires. Options

[Jerry S.]

Let's see if I can keep my responses straight this time:

Texasrvrs: Thanks for the "I,m standing here live report". I guess that puts an end to that burning question. Concerning the chalets: Until about 4-5 years ago, the 20 or so chalets you see that are closest to the casino used to be RV sites. Back then the park had about 150 RV sites. I don't think there has been much, if any, conversion of sites in recent years. I hope you did OK at the casino. I am glad to hear that they seem to now had park wide WIFI. Is it still free?

abn: This issue has not been brought up, but I am glad you did.

Cheryl: The "point" wasn't specifically about knowing whether or not another camper ever left their rig. It was that someone who spends the day in the park will see more of what goes on in the park than someone who goes out for most of the day. I won't waste the time and space to give you a specific example of my being out and about in the park (especially a small, uncrowded park) most of the day and only seeing one of my neighbors outside their rig once or twice the entire day.

[BBear]

We camp at state parks where campfires are the norm and we will actually delay or not go camping at all if there's a fire ban because of dry weather or wind conditions.

My sister who is mentally and physically challenged loves campfires. Being autistic, it is one of the things that will keep her attention for more than a few minutes. She loves it and the times we have gone camping and it rains, she keeps pointing to the campfire ring wondering why we're not having a campfire.

Having a campfire for me is very relaxing. There's something about watching embers glow and flames rise and fall that is a great stress reliever for me.

I'm not one of those kind of people who builds a bonfire and lights it with lighter fluid...we usually don't burn more than about three or four pieces of wood which is plenty enough to get enough coals for us to enjoy another thing we like about campfires...mountain pies!

I also like having a campfire because the smoke produced cuts down on those pesty mosquitoes.

The times we don't intend to cook over the campfire, we use duraflame logs which produce little or no smoke or smell, but is just as nice to look at as a real fire.

And, once we start a campfire, we don't leave it unattended and when we're done we make sure that every flame and coal is out before leaving the campfire ring area and we also carry a 5 gallon tin can to put our "campfire debris" in so we don't leave the site a mess for the next person to clean.

Like the one person said there's a difference between camping and RVing...having campfires is one reason why I stick to camping.

[BBear]

Also while we may not sit around a campfire, we also do not "seal ourselves up in A/C emerging only periodically to walk the poodle." Usually our trips are to an area that has lots to see and do outside the RV park. We spend a great deal of time sightseeing and basically use our motor home as a rolling hotel room. However, we can certainly understand how many people like to get away for the weekend and relax by cooking out and sitting around a campfire with friends and never leave the camp. This just emphasizes again how different people are looking for different experiences from campgrounds/RV parks and if you end up at a place that doesn't provide you with your expected experience you will probably be unhappy.

We usually camp during the week when it's less crowded and during the times we have gone to a campground other than a state park, we have come across people who don't necessarily hole themselves up in their RV, but hole their pets up in it. We've camped next to RV'ers like this and it breaks my heart when I'm at my campsite just relaxing and I have to hear howling and scratching on the door of the rig next to us because the dogs left there miss their owners and these are the same type of people who go around calling their dogs "their babies"...what person in their right mind would leave "their babies" alone by themselves for hours on end??? Maybe they don't realize that their babies don't act the way they do in their absence as they do in their presence...just food for thought for those of you who read this who do leave your pets alone while you go out sightseeing.

I apologize for going off topic, hope ya'll don't mind!

[wprigge]

I also like having a campfire because the smoke produced cuts down on those pesty mosquitoes.

You are lucky, here in Eastern Canada the mosquitoes, black flies and other friendly beasts are not overly impressed with smoke from campfires.

[Jerry S.]

BBear:

You've got a lot more guts than I do. Going off topic isn't going to bother too many people, but critical of dog owners is liable to open up a can of worms. So far, even I haven't dared to take on the dog lovers. Put on your protective armor and good luck.

Jerry S.

[BBear]

You are lucky, here in Eastern Canada the mosquitoes, black flies and other friendly beasts are not overly impressed with smoke from campfires.

I don't think there's really anything that keeps black flies away...I do know when we have a campfire there's not mosquitoes near it, but leave the surrounding area of the campfire and there they are.

[BBear]

BBear:

You've got a lot more guts than I do. Going off topic isn't going to bother too many people, but critical of dog owners is liable to open up a can of worms. So far, even I haven't dared to take on the dog lovers. Put on your protective armor and good luck.

Jerry S.

I wasn't being critical of all dog owners...just those that keep their dogs holed up in their rig while they go out for the day.

I love dogs and that's why I have a problem with this. If it opens a can of worms, so be it. It would be a shame if I'd need protective armor, because that would mean an attack is emminent. You don't need protective armor to have a civil conversation.

[Cheryl Fuller]

I wasn't being critical of all dog owners...just those that keep their dogs holed up in their rig while they go out for the day.

I love dogs and that's why I have a problem with this. If it opens a can of worms, so be it. It would be a shame if I'd need protective armor, because that would mean an attack is emminent. You don't need protective armor to have a civil conversation.

You are right - we all have different opinions and we should be able to state them without fear of attack. Our opinions differ on this matter, but that doesn't mean we can't get along. Our dogs do stay in the RV if we are going somewhere that they are not allowed. We find it much kinder to leave them in an air conditioned motorhome, with their toys, beds, food and water and potty bin rather than locked in a hot car while we go inside a museum or restaurant. The RV is a second home to them and is no different than leaving them here at home when we go out. When we do leave them, we pull the shades down, not only does it keep the rig cooler, but also keeps them from seeing things outside which could cause them to start barking. We also leave the television on the weather channel. That way, they hear soothing voices without all the variation in volume that you get when watching movies. The sound also masks outside sounds. We have never had a complaint of them barking and have even asked our "neighbors" if they heard the dogs while we were gone and have always been told no. Of course, we aren't there to see what they are doing, but I think they are quite content. We usually return to find them napping together or playing with their toys. They are never left as long as a dog whose owner worked fulltime would be left during the day, so I guess I don't see why it is wrong to leave them in the RV,where they are quite comfortable and at home. Please don't think I took offense, I really didn't - just giving my opinion.....

[Jackie & Tony]

I second what Cheryl said - we too leave our dog in the Air Conditioned or Heated RV with all her comforts. (How funny we also leave the TV on the Weather Channel) We try not to leave her for more than 4 hours at a time though as she misses us. But living in Florida it sure is the better way than dragging the poor little thing around in the 90 degree heat!!

[Captain Pickle]

I'll have to say that if I don't have a little campfire at night, then I don't feel like I'm camping! The smell of the campfires up and down the hollow is pleasant to me. What I don't like is campers who throw their trash in the campfire and make all sorts of stinking smoke. To me, that is rude.

[cottagecrafters]

I've enjoyed camping in tents, popups, and now (siince Hubby and I are older) in a TT. I also am of the opinion that the campfire is part of the camping experience. Each season, on our first campout (almost always in state or federal parks) we have the traditional s'more desserts around the first campfire. This became a tradition way back when the boys were little. It continues even though they are both grown and out on their own. We always bring our own wood (hard maple from our property) and keep our fires small and managable. Our fire isnt just something pretty to look at either, we love cooking on it using our dutch ovens, pie irons, and grill grate. Heck we've even once cooked on a rock (we forgot the grill grate and yes I washed the rock first.) Lots of memories have been made around our fires. When we finish for the evening, we always always make sure that the fire is completely out (its my girl scout training) before going inside. If at the end of our stay we have a few logs left over from our stash of maple we leave it piled neatly next to the firering so that the next camper might enjoy. Now, I've said my piece and hope that yall have a wonderful time---Sing a song, tell a tale burn a marshmallow

[kjd15]

I didn't realize there are so many who dislike campfires so strongly.
Living in NY, almost every campground we go to in the tri-state area has fire rings and it's one of the things the kids and hubby and I look forward to the most on our weekend outings.

When we go somewhere fo a longer stay, we don't have as many fires because we are venturing out of the campground, which we don't do on a weekend.

We are responsible with our fires, and if the campground provides a ring, we are going to use it. Do I have to go knocking on every door nearby to ask if it's ok for us to light a fire?

Maybe campgrounds who allow fires need to provide a campfire free area for those who don't like the smell or have health problems.

[sparky]

I generally like a fire-But the last two campouts, friends brought old "pine" and the fire stink was horrible-we all had to put smelly clothes in bags as not to stink up my girlfriends 5er and others said the same thing-
I had brought some Oak---and it was fine--old pine logs--Not a good fire
sparky From Va.

[Builditinfo]

Hi everybody,

For those of you who don't know my camping and RVing credentials: 15+ years in tents and 15 + years RVs; 49 states and most of Canada; over 200 campgrounds and RV parks; 5 months of RVing a year for 10+ years since retiring. I discussed my views about the site in the Campgound Reviews (mostly with Texasrvrs) string in this Forum a few weeks ago.

Since my area is about to be hit with really fridged (highs less than 10 degrees) for the next 4 or 5 days, I thought I'd try to start a hot topic. As mentioned in the aforementioned string discussion, there are some park amenities that one camper considers a positive and another camper considers a negative. One of my favorite examples is campfires.

I have read many pro campfire reviews complaining about: lack of fire rings; the size, placement, and/or what the rings were made of; restrictions, etc. Many write about the tradional aspect of campfires: just siting around it at night; s'mores; treat for the kids or grandkids; etc.

The anti-campfire people say: their rigs fill with smoke; embers and ash fall on their rigs and awnings; they can't sit outside at their own sites because of the smoke/smell; the inherent danger of open fires; the things some people try to burn; fires in 80+ degree weather; etc.

The one complaint of the pro-campfire people that I have the biggest problem with is being upset about restrictions. While some parks may ban fires for their own reasons, many bans are due to governmental (municipal, state, federal) decisions. These can be permanent or temporary but almost always based on public safety issues. I have been out west numerous times over the years in states that have dozens of fires burning tens of thousands of acres and some camper will complain about not being able to have a campfire. They act as if it is a constitutional right.

One more thought to get the ball rolling. All you have to do is read how many reviews complain about the lack of space between RV sites to realize that most RV parks are not condusive to campfires - at least to your downwind neighbors.

I could go into each of the pro and anti items above, but I'll wait to see what others think.

Jerry S.