Years ago, I had small fires for cooking when going solo into the wilderness. For a while I used a Trangia alcohol burner stove that was great. Then I discovered a new crop of very compact propane/butane canister stoves that weigh almost nothing. Amazon twice offered me a super light foldable 3 leg stove for $3.00, shipped in packaging direct from China, so I bought them. Fast self-lighting, adjustable flame, clean burning so they don't soot my cookware like a wood fire does, and don't require dangerously balancing on a stack of stones or wood to support a cook pot over the right level of heat (to cook or simmer) without danger of it tipping over and ruining my meal and the fire itself.
Plus, at remote primitive campsites of the type where I often make my camp, those stoves are ultra LNT, leaving absolutely no evidence of burnt ground to reveal my passage. Not to mention, no smoke chasing me and getting in my eyes in my eddy of still air, no matter where I locate myself around it. They are such an efficient time saver, time for me at my primitive campsite better spent reviewing my topo navigation maps to do my bushwhack planning adjustments for tomorrow, preparing my gear for the night, relaxing by reading a book before the sun goes down, or perhaps doing some fishing at dusk.
When with a group that demands a fire, then the fire requires everyone’s attention, with the loss of night vision and hearing all the dark time night sights and sounds that can be so revealing, and other experiences new to most people. Many from city centers have never seen all the stars in a pitch-black sky with fully dark-adapted eyes. Sometimes with scouts I would place a small burning candle at the circle center and enjoy perceptions and discussing thoughts of what the night offers instead of staring at tall dancing flames.
Collecting good dry dead and down firewood, breaking or cutting it up to maintain a fire is just too much unnecessary work. For what purpose for just me? When I was camping with family, or now if I am guiding or training a BSA group, the youngsters are kept busy making and feeding a fire for their pleasure. Unless I can convince them not to.
