Ok so it's been a gnarly fire season with heavy restrictions and stiff fines and penalties for those who get caught with a campfire. However for some this isn't enough to deter them from having a fire. Last weekend I too wrestled with the responsible vs. comfort dilema. It was fairly cold at camp on Friday and most retired early to get warm. However not all on the trail elected to not have a campfire. Now without passing judgement cause I too wanted a fire but elected not to, what is your opinion on fires. Is a simple notice about every mile on the road to the trail enough to deter you or do you need further convincing and what does it take for you to not have a fire. I've posted a simple poll to keep the answers anonymous but I am curious as to what it would take for you to not have a fire.

we went up camping a few weekends back. It was plenty cold and would have been great to have a fire.. my two buddys that were with us wanted to light one but we were going to head back down (about 3/4's mile) to the hot springs later in the night. I almost had to box with both of them to not light a damn fire that we werent going to use for more than an hour then have to put out to leave. anyway...long story short.. we didnt light one.. ended up freezing our ass off, then left the next day to come home..... as we were leaveing the F.D. was evacuating the area because of a 3000 acre fire that had blown up less than a mile from where we were camped.

IF ITS POSTED DO NOT BURN DONT FAWKING BURN !!!!!

I have seen way too many of my favorite camp spots in the state go up in flames in the last 5 years because of stupid people. We've lost over 100k acres in the last 5 years.

Trust the F.D. when they say its to dry to burn.

Several years ago in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, it got so bad that the "Authorities" were posting signs in the driveways to folks' camps stating there were to be no fires. They went so far as to outlawing smoking outside. There were to be no charcoal fires (fear of hot coals igniting) only gas grills.

The state police were issuing $100 tickets to folks throwing cigarette butts out the windows.

No, I did not light a fire, I used my Coleman stove!

On the way home, the road up near the Macinac Bridge was nearly impassable due to the smoke from a forest fire.

Now, even though I said I didn't light a fire, and I'm disappointed for those who have lost property due to fires, in the UP, the best thing that could happen would be a big fire to burn all of the under brush and start over. Sounds pretty extreme, but, fire is a naturally occurring condition that cleanses the earth periodically.

Yes, I realize I'm a contradiction, an environmental engineer who wheels and thinks the occasional forest fire is actually a good thing.

Flame away.

Paul

I figured this thread would die a fast death.

No this isn't a thread to flame others or pass judgement. I'm mostly curious.

And yes naturally caused fires should be allowed to burn until they are done, unless it is endangering homes or lives.

Well I will have a fire if it is allowed, even during fire season, but I will not burn if it is High Danger or outright banned. Remember fires are legal during fire season w/ permit (at least in CA) unless banned.

That is the option in your poll you are missing...

They post no fire for a reason. The possibility of a fire spreading in high. I think it should just be common sense. Crap, I have slept in 25* weather, in a tent, with no fire before. Get in the sleeping bag, zip it up, and I warm up pretty quick.

Last year I came upon a campsite down the backside of Spider Lake where some dipstick left a fire still smoldering and the wind was just starting to pick up. All it would have taken was a few sparks blown a few feet into the pine needles.:eek: I stirred the coals and poured two gallons of water on it before taking my trusty rusty shovel and piling on plenty of sand and dirt. The signs weren't up stating 'no fires' but at least the bonehead could have made sure his fire was dead out before leaving...
http://www.pirate4x4.com/glenn2/con1021/fire5.jpg

A couple weeks ago we were at Bassi and this gentleman came walking through the camp draging a bunch of fire wood. I reminded him that there was NO fires in a fairly nice way. He proceded to tell me he had to cook his food. The conversation went down hill from there, we had been in camp for a few hours and had consumed several beverages, I guess the no fire rule didn't apply to him what an ass to claim he came all the way to bassi without a stove. At least he didn't burn down the forest some people are just stupid.

Down to about Zero degrees, you should be able to camp in relative comfort sans any fire. Doesn't even take THAT great of a sleeping bag, but an extra blanket & long johns helps. Below zero, it's tough to stay comfortable. But, I've done it with no fire before, so no reason to light one if it's a "high risk" time.

TEX