fire ban

Try this, I found it on the Inet
You need to know how to make an artificial campfire for a campfire circle in the rain, or where real fire is too dangerous. You can make a fine looking artificial campfire from simple and inexpensive materials. Campfire sound effects help complete the illusion of a real fire.
To make an artificial campfire, you will need:
• 2’ x 2’ plywood base
• Battery operated push light
• Pile of approximately 2” diameter firewood
• Hot glue gun and hot glue sticks
• Red, orange, yellow, and blue cellophane sheets
• Sound effects recording of a crackling fire
1. Place the battery operated push light in the center of the plywood base. Trace around it with a pencil. Remove the light. Draw a second shape that is about an inch bigger than the push light tracing.
2. Arrange the firewood into a pile, as though it is a real fire. Keep an opening at the center of the wood that is the size of the larger shape drawn on the wood.
3. Use the glue gun to attach the wood to the base and the pieces of wood to each other. Be careful that your center opening remains open.
4. Cut the sheets of cellophane into large triangular pieces. Crumple some of the pieces. Glue some red and orange cellophane triangles to the sides of the opening in the middle of the wood. Have them stick up above the wood as flames.
5. Place the push light down inside the center opening. Glue orange and yellow triangular pieces of cellophane to the top of the light. Have them stick up above the wood as flames. Put just a few pieces of blue cellophane at the center of the artificial campfire.
6. Push the light to turn it on. The cellophane flames now carry the light and look like a real campfire.
7. Play a sound effects recording of a crackling campfire to add realism to your artificial campfire.
After you make an artificial campfire, use it for sing-alongs, storytelling, and other events. Turn out the lights for the best effect.

rockhillmanor wrote:
You can make smores and hotdogs over a small propane cook stove. If that is allowed.

Me, I'm glad to be anywhere there is NOT a campfire. 6 years full timing and I have yet to meet a camper that knows how to build a smokeless campfire. Or more importantly one that knows how to extinguish a campfire before they go to bed. So others don't gag to death from the smoke coming into their RV all night long.:(

couple that with most firepits that are designed more for smoke signals than campfire.

IMHO the best firepit is a old washing machine drum. we have one I carry along, use it for fire, and virtually all our cooking. virtually no smoke and lots of heat, and cuts down on the wood useage as well. I welded three nuts on the bottom with long bolts so I can raise it up if needed, and built a shelf to put inside when used for cooking, and a weber grill replacement usually is a perfect fit on the top.

rhagfo wrote:
:S
We ended up with a total fire band in Oregon State parks last year. It never amazes me how people just can't get the term "No Open Flames". That and thinking briquets are safer than a fire. You need flame to start them, and the starting chimneys are one of the worst things I have seen!!! :S We had someone when we were still allowing briquets in the fire pits, one layer only using a chimney to start their briquets. Flames about two feet out the top, as we got there to explain that was too big of flame the guy removed the chimney and you could not believe the shower of sparks! Luckily the site was a gravel pad about 50' square and the light breeze was blowing such as they landed on the gravel.

I agree camping without a Campfire takes out some of the fun, but better to skip the campfire and still have a campground, than to burn it down!

must have varied by which oregon state park. several we were at banned ALL charcoal or wood use, including charcoal BBQ or even dutch ovens, but allowed propane lanterns, propane fire pits, propane stoves etc. It was similar at county parks. Best thing is to check either in advance or when you get in.

One banned all charcoal use but allowed wood fires.

It alsways amazes me how many people seem immune to breathing smoke. We enjoyed out trip this summer through Montana and Wyoming much more due to the fire ban. The smoke from campfires greatly exacerbates asthma problems so we normally must avoid many campgrounds where campfires are common such as KOAs. This year was a nice exception due to the fire ban.

steveh27 wrote:
T Don't like the smoke, don't like sparks if I'm trailering my boat...

x2. Wood fires are a major irritant to me. I welcome the propane ones..same effect, no smoke.

You can make smores and hotdogs over a small propane cook stove. If that is allowed.

Me, I'm glad to be anywhere there is NOT a campfire. 6 years full timing and I have yet to meet a camper that knows how to build a smokeless campfire. Or more importantly one that knows how to extinguish a campfire before they go to bed. So others don't gag to death from the smoke coming into their RV all night long.:(

Around here a total fire ban means anything wood or wood based, and anything else that can cause a spark. You are still allowed propane grills and those open propane fire bowls. I just bought a propane fire bowl at Costco for if this situation ever arises.
Last spring the fire hazard was so high when we were camping that the RCMP would come through the campground twice a day and talk to every site reminding them of the fire ban.

I agree camping without a Campfire takes out some of the fun, but better to skip the campfire and still have a campground, than to burn it down!

Along with possibly thousands of acres of forest.

Totally agree. We went through the same scenario about 3 or 4 years ago while camping in Custer SP, SD. Complete fire ban and rightfully so.

Although our group surely missed sitting around the campfire and the smell of wood smoke on a frosty morning and chilly evenings, we understood the reason for the fire ban and made the best of it and still had a great time. :)

:S
We ended up with a total fire band in Oregon State parks last year. It never amazes me how people just can't get the term "No Open Flames". That and thinking briquets are safer than a fire. You need flame to start them, and the starting chimneys are one of the worst things I have seen!!! :S We had someone when we were still allowing briquets in the fire pits, one layer only using a chimney to start their briquets. Flames about two feet out the top, as we got there to explain that was too big of flame the guy removed the chimney and you could not believe the shower of sparks! Luckily the site was a gravel pad about 50' square and the light breeze was blowing such as they landed on the gravel.

I agree camping without a Campfire takes out some of the fun, but better to skip the campfire and still have a campground, than to burn it down!

The National Forest ban on fires where I have camped allow propane fires and propane BBQ. No smoking, no charcoal and no wood, although they allow charcoal BBQ in an established forest service campground.