Campfire smoke

[GrandpaKip]

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?

[weasel4]

Take that Duraflame log and slice a chunk off like slicing bread. Throw the slice into the fire pit, cover with wood and light the slice.
BTC

[Terryallan]

dave54 wrote:
Odd that so many posters claim you cannot camp without a fire. We have not had a campfire for ourselves in decades. The only time we ever build a fire is when the grandkids are with us and we make s'mores, then we just use briquets.

We do not object to others having a fire, we just do not want one ourselves. At night we stargaze for a while then go to bed.

I cannot count the numbers of times I have an arriving camper in hot weather (100+ heat) build a blazing fire the first thing -- before camp is even set up. I never understood why.

Never said YOU couldn't. Said we couldn't. With out a fire for us. It is not camping. It is RVing. We RV at the beach, We camp in the mountains. With out a fire in the mountains. May as well be in a motel. It is just our preference. Every one is not the same.
And You are correct about the heat. That is why we have no fire at the beach. Too hot. But all summer long above 3000' on the Blue Ridge. It is cool enough to snuggle up to a fire. Which is why we have a 3000' rule. Never camp below 3000' unless there is an ocean in front of you. Nothing like cooking breakfast outside, and then warming by the fire while you eat.

yeah. We do all our cooking out side as well

[dewey02]

Halmfamily wrote:
I've used our air compressor twice to get wet wood burning. Its amazing how hot you can get wet wood burning with lots of compressed air.

Until you remove the forced oxygen and the wet wood goes back it its slow burn smolder. Wet wood will burn. It just won't burn well or rigorously.

[Halmfamily]

I've used our air compressor twice to get wet wood burning. Its amazing how hot you can get wet wood burning with lots of compressed air.

[toedtoes]

GrandpaKip wrote:

PRodacy wrote:
If someone came up to me and said something like "can you make more fire than smoke" I'd consider it to be a smart a$$ remark and ignore them, too. Something like, "looks like you got some wet wood -can I offer you some dry wood to help you out?" Goes a lot farther in my book.

Yeah...I could have been a lot more diplomatic, for sure. We were in the middle of a dinner I had spent 2 hours preparing for our last night at the campground. The amount of smoke was unreal. Our eyes were watering and we were coughing. Kinda ruined a really nice meal. Regardless, I could have been nicer.
However, if my neighbor came over and complained, I would have been embarrassed, apologized and would have attempted to do rectify the situation, even if I thought he acted like an asshat.

One thing to remember is that how you think you would react in a situation can be very different than how you actually react in that situation when you are frustrated, stressed, and angry at yourself and nothing is going as planned.

[toedtoes]

penguin149 wrote:
I guess I'm the big spender in the bunch!!! I take 1 Duraflame log and one firestarter stick for every night we will build a fire. Throw some downed limbs found around the campsite plus a log or two brought from home or bought at the campground. We have a nice, relatively smoke-free, fire going in less than 15 minutes and the 9 year old daughter is not pestering the begeebers out of me!! 🙂

I have the "green" fire logs that are safe to cook with. I keep a few in the RV at all times. If I want a fire, I light one up. Lasts 3 hours, works great for s'mores and I don't have to deal with getting the fire going. And when it goes out, it's out. No embers hiding away. 🙂

[dave54]

Odd that so many posters claim you cannot camp without a fire. We have not had a campfire for ourselves in decades. The only time we ever build a fire is when the grandkids are with us and we make s'mores, then we just use briquets.

We do not object to others having a fire, we just do not want one ourselves. At night we stargaze for a while then go to bed.

I cannot count the numbers of times I have an arriving camper in hot weather (100+ heat) build a blazing fire the first thing -- before camp is even set up. I never understood why.

[DutchmenSport]

downtheroad wrote:

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.

Unfortunately, yes! It's just part of the camping experience. The neighbor campers are not INTENTIONALLY making smoke. They ARE wanting fire! Their wood is wet (or green) or both, and they don't have enough dry kindling to get a good fire started. Smoke, smoke, smoke.... yes... happens a lot. Nothing you can really do. If it ever happens to you (and it may someday) ... you'll be the one with neighbors glaring down your "smoke"!

Actually, the neighbors handled themselves pretty good. They avoided confronting you and escalating a troubled moment even more. By your action, just going over, demonstrated you were pi$$ed.

No (man) likes to have his primitive Neanderthal nature challenged! Something as basic as building a campfire is one of those basic natures!

[gbopp]

rbpru wrote:

I steal my DW's cooking oil for starting.

You're playing with fire to start a fire. 🙂

[penguin149]

I guess I'm the big spender in the bunch!!! I take 1 Duraflame log and one firestarter stick for every night we will build a fire. Throw some downed limbs found around the campsite plus a log or two brought from home or bought at the campground. We have a nice, relatively smoke-free, fire going in less than 15 minutes and the 9 year old daughter is not pestering the begeebers out of me!! 🙂

[hawkeye-08]

PAAK wrote:
SCH911, its an un-written law. How can you enjoy a campfire with propane? When we are camping, all food is cooked over the campfire, if I want propane, I could stay at home.

My family is not going to cancel our summer camping just because we can't have a wood fueled campfire... I fully understand the high fire danger conditions that drought brings with it and have no problem having a propane campfire. BTW, I just bought a propane campfire for our upcoming trip since I already know that there are fire restrictions in place and the kids (in their 20s and 30s) will want smores. It is not the same as a real campfire, but we plan on enjoying it regardless.

Regarding starting a campfire,

We were at the Oregon coast a number of years ago, staying in a hotel right on the beach.. the kids wanted a campfire on the beach (it is allowed) and so off I went. I discovered for convenience, it is really easy to let the campfire guy know we want a fire at xx time. He shows up with a bundle of dry wood, arranges it teepee style, fires up his propane torch and starts the fire. The whole process might have taken 2 minutes. With some planning and a little work, we were able to have free campfires each night the rest of the vacation by gathering left over firewood on the beach in the early mornings and starting the fire with some newspaper.. had a blast.

To those that can have a real campfire, I am envious this year. Stay safe and may the campfire smoke follow you all your days..

[Terryallan]

hawkeye-08 wrote:

sch911 wrote:
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...

Not true, especially when the law says no campfires except propane (we are in drought conditions and if you don't have a propane fire, you don't have one at all... Guess you would just stay home and not camp if you have to have wood fueled campfire...

BTW, I like a wood fueled campfire, but with the fire conditions, I will use propane and not take the risk.. (of getting cited or starting a wild fire)..

That's what I do. IF there is a campfire ban in the mountains. I just stay home. It ain't camping with out a real fire.
However. We do not have a fire at the beach. It is way too hot there to sit around a fire.

[path1]

Many people run out of firewood by nights end. I love to get up and let them know that I can help them out. I fire up the chain saw and play a few tunes. Sip a cup coffee, then play couple more songs and repeat as necessary.


The main smoke makers are weekenders and when school is out.

[PAAK]

SCH911, its an un-written law. How can you enjoy a campfire with propane? When we are camping, all food is cooked over the campfire, if I want propane, I could stay at home.

PAAK wrote:
Regardless, its a campground and you have to realize that there may not be people out there that know how to build a fire. Give them a hand and maybe just deal with it. Most campsites are on top of each other.

GrandpaKip wrote:

PRodacy wrote:
If someone came up to me and said something like "can you make more fire than smoke" I'd consider it to be a smart a$$ remark and ignore them, too. Something like, "looks like you got some wet wood -can I offer you some dry wood to help you out?" Goes a lot farther in my book.

Yeah...I could have been a lot more diplomatic, for sure. We were in the middle of a dinner I had spent 2 hours preparing for our last night at the campground. The amount of smoke was unreal. Our eyes were watering and we were coughing. Kinda ruined a really nice meal. Regardless, I could have been nicer.
However, if my neighbor came over and complained, I would have been embarrassed, apologized and would have attempted to do rectify the situation, even if I thought he acted like an asshat.

[2oldman]

sch911 wrote:

2oldman wrote:

hawkeye-08 wrote:

sch911 wrote:
Camping requires a campfire made of wood (not propane) it's the law....

Not true, especially when the law says no campfires except propane..

Hawkeye just forgot the wink avatar.

LOL! Anyone who would think that "it's the law..." in my post was not intended as tongue in cheek needs help.

Yah.. and oops, I got the wrong name.. it was you sch.