While at Hunting Island campground, my wife and I were eating dinner outside. All,of a sudden a continual cloud of eye watering smoke comes pouring around the front of the camper and under our awning. There was a strong breeze at our location. I went around the front and saw our neighbor had started a "fire" in the ring. I could see no flames and I went up and said "Excuse me sir. We are next door and the smoke is really thick. Could you try to make more fire than smoke?" I tried to keep my voice as neutral as possible, but perhaps was not successful. He looked up at me as if I had two heads. His wife totally ignored me. The guy then looked back at the ring and poked at the logs, making more smoke. I realized I wasn't going to get any more response than that and left. With a fan, we were able to keep it clear enough to finish dinner. This lasted for about a half hour longer before clearing up enough to stand it. Never had this happen before. I would have been embarrassed, if I had done this. Curious as to whether anybody else had this happen to them?

GrandpaKip wrote: Curious as to whether anybody else had this happen to them?Sure, lots of times. We don't like it, but it's camping and camping means campfires.

Some people don't know how to get a fire going. Sometimes the wood is just so wet, it's really hard to get going even if you know what you are doing. Last summer, in Door County, WI, all the wood, no matter where you bought it from was wet. It was really hard to make anything but smoke signals. Fortunately most of the times we camped there wasn't anyone around us. It's not that I wanted to make smoke, but that's what happens sometimes. It was similar in the UP when were there in June. I think the rude part is that he didn't respond or apologize. A decent guy would have apologized and maybe explained he was having trouble or something.

We were in NC a few years back and we spotted a new neighbor coming back from the store with a stack of wet firewood. I explained to him that wet wood would smoke more than flames and disappoint his 3 kids who were yelling about making s'mores. He went back to the store and they showed him the stack of wood out back that was dry. No problem. Didn't get a thanks from his but his wife came over after the kids went to bed and thanked us. She saw our propane fire pit and said that by their next trip they'd have one also.

Yes and it eventually takes off or slowly goes out. Not everyone knows how to make a camp fire. I might have taken over my billows and helped him. Excessive noise after quiet time is my anger trigger.

I'm seeing less and less fire rings. I don't like smoke either and avoid it whenever possible.

Campfire smoke | Good Sam Community

downtheroad
Explorer
Jul 28, 2015
GrandpaKip wrote:
Curious as to whether anybody else had this happen to them?

Sure, lots of times. We don't like it, but it's camping and camping means campfires.
Campfire_Time
Explorer
Jul 28, 2015
Some people don't know how to get a fire going. Sometimes the wood is just so wet, it's really hard to get going even if you know what you are doing.

Last summer, in Door County, WI, all the wood, no matter where you bought it from was wet. It was really hard to make anything but smoke signals. Fortunately most of the times we camped there wasn't anyone around us. It's not that I wanted to make smoke, but that's what happens sometimes. It was similar in the UP when were there in June.

I think the rude part is that he didn't respond or apologize. A decent guy would have apologized and maybe explained he was having trouble or something.
Mr__Camper
Explorer
Jul 28, 2015
We were in NC a few years back and we spotted a new neighbor coming back from the store with a stack of wet firewood. I explained to him that wet wood would smoke more than flames and disappoint his 3 kids who were yelling about making s'mores. He went back to the store and they showed him the stack of wood out back that was dry. No problem. Didn't get a thanks from his but his wife came over after the kids went to bed and thanked us. She saw our propane fire pit and said that by their next trip they'd have one also.
Oasisbob
Explorer
Jul 28, 2015
Yes and it eventually takes off or slowly goes out. Not everyone knows how to make a camp fire. I might have taken over my billows and helped him. Excessive noise after quiet time is my anger trigger.
coolbreeze01
Explorer
Jul 28, 2015
I'm seeing less and less fire rings. I don't like smoke either and avoid it whenever possible.
korbe
Explorer
Jul 28, 2015
I have taken some of our dry kindlin over and most of the time the neighbor is appreciative of the act and I help them get the flames up and runnin. I would sure hope that most people would rather be friendly than not. And I would also guess that the smoke only fires are because of not knowing how to do it.
sch911
Explorer
Jul 28, 2015
Camping requires a campfire made of wood (not propane) it's the law. Some campers don't have the skill set yet to get the fire burning right away. They lack experience. But think back, we all did once upon a time too. Go help them, let them know how to do it right...
GordonThree
Explorer
Jul 28, 2015
I've found it easier to bear gifts when sticking my nose in someone else's business. Many time's I have offered charcoal and lighter fluid to dry out a soaking wet fire pit. I've also lent out my propane torch fire starter and my axe so they can make kindling. I've switched to using fire starter bricks now, and would gladly give those out. They're normally 99 cents, but I've bought a bunch at 50% off too.
Pangaea_Ron
Explorer
Jul 28, 2015
We carry Cedar shingles, and a bit of dimensional lumber to get the fire going without smoking out the CG. The propane torch also helps.

We also carry a propane fire pit for using in WA State in our time of burn bans. Some parks are even banning modulated propane fire pits. It's going to be a long hot summer.

The burn ban does effectively eliminate unwanted smoke.
3oaks
Explorer
Jul 28, 2015
And sometimes the wind shifts at the most inopportune time.

Then again, we're early birds, up at sunrise. I love cooking bacon and eggs over an open fire when a mild breeze drifts through the campground. I have the neighbors drooling as they come out of their campers. :B

downtheroad's reply captures it pretty well. It's all part of camping and goes with the territory. :)

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