Kevin Callan: Death of the Campfire

No one has surpassed Sigurd F. Olson in writing about campfires. I suggest reading Chapter 5 entitled CAMPFIRES in the Summer Section of his wonderful book THE SINGING WILDERNESS.

Ive found a lot to agree with in this thread and would add a small tid-bit for my “indoor camp fire”. I built this stove back at Y2K and thankfully the world DID NOT end! In Alaska a “second heat source” is comforting and this one was built to do it all. 14 gallon water tank on the back for bath’s (at the end of the world) and a machined flat top for cooking on. Not just setting pots on either; this baby will fry a perfect pancake!
All the shiney stuff is Stainless and the fully machined door seals with out gaskets; to the point, i can shut the fire off!!!
My Son it law will haul it up to the cabin after im gone and in the mean time it sure makes a nice plant stand!

Where I live, the threat of fire is just as important as the lack of fire. Our summers are ruled by fire or the absence of fire. During dry summers, there is a strange juxtaposition of abundance and scarcity. Fires will be burning all around us, often out of control. The air will be thick with smoke, to the point that breathing is affected, and smoke hangs in the air like a low cloud. During these times, we are not allowed to have a fire. So we enjoy all of the "ambiances" of fires, smoke and stinking clothes, without the actual flames.

These are trying times for us. Fire is the main part of our social scene, particularly at our place, which tends to have people sitting around our fire a few times a week. There are no concerts or theatres or shopping malls here, so the fire becomes the central point of social life. We have had up to 50 people at our place on a weekend night, sometimes with a jam session going on, but always with some form of music. When a fire ban is enacted, there is immense frustration and disappointment. We have put three coleman white gas lamps in the pit to simulate the ambiance of flames, when it was colder, we have put a big propane torch in the pit, all kinds of shenanigans. The absence of fire in our lives is a major blow. When a ban is lifted, the entire town goes bananas, bacchanalian celebrations go on for weeks.

Strangely enough, when solo tripping, I don't always have fires. Sometimes I'm so tired I just set up the tent and go to bed. However, when group tripping, we always have fires, if permitted.

Last weekend I brought in the last of my firewood for the year. I cut a big load on Friday, had it split and stacked by Saturday, then my chum Chainsaw Rob texted me Sunday morning at 7:30 and asked if I was up, said he was bring me an early birthday present. Showed up with a full cord of 8 foot jackpine, so my day was spent bucking, splitting and stacking. I have a wood stove in the house, but we only use it if we have company over. The majority of my wood gets burned out side. The first year of covid, we had limits on indoor gatherings imposed on us, so we always met outside, and I burned five full cords of wood in the fire pit that year. I've only got around five cord of wood layed away this year, I hope it is enough.

Stoves are made from metals that have to be mined. They sometimes use plastic made from petroleum. Fossil fuels are required to fire them. Transportation is required to move the materials and fuel to the consumer. Then there is the problem of container disposal.

Fires are carbon neutral and help clean up the dead woody debris on the forest floor.
As a forester I find building fires to be more environmentally responsible in a time when overstocked forests are the norm.

Stick stove

Small, simple fire for cooking and ambience.

Wow, pretty cool thread. I use my twig stove for cooking and coffee … or to use in my tarp tent to take the morning chill off. When traveling, I do not have, nor do I desire a camp fire. I leave early in the am and have no time for one. At the end of a travel day I am SO HUNGRY and tired it is all I can do to set up camp, make supper sip a little whiskey or rum as the stars come out and then fall into a deep sleep.

Once at base camp I have a different view. My dog Jake and I wander about the timber exploring moose trails, creeks and rock ledges. We paddle about, fish, shore lunch etc. I enjoy camp chores, and wood gathering just seems like something to do when exploring the timber.

I enjoy a low camp fire for looking at and day dreaming. I enjoy the sound of the crackling. Hard wood smoke, like birch wood, kills the bacterial that causes B.O. on our bodies. I learned that from the old way people and as a hunter it has helped me. I like the smell of wood smoke. When I go through my gear and smell the smoke … it takes me back to the deep feeling of freedom. One of the simplest yet most rewarding things for me is to be many days travel in some remote wild place - having cooked a meal over a fire with the glow of it contrasting the dark evening … sipping a bit … the night sounds, the crackle, the cooler air … makes the hard travel to get there worth the effort for a small camp fire.

Almost spiritual, the way Odyssey lites a campfire.


You couldn’t pay me enough to have missed spending time around our evening campfires.
Summit Lake, Marshall Lake circuit. L-R, Christy, Brad, (Odyssey), Mirand, (Mrs. Odyssey) Karin, Memaquay

Built a fire in the backyard campsite last night. I am building fires in the wood stove a couple of nights a week now.
Next we will have some people over and cook with a Dutch Oven out back.
Later I will put up the wall tent and have some fires in the tin wood stove.
My back yard is a great place to camp.

Would love to see pics of your wall tent as the season moves on.