Concerned about campfire/firepit smoke

[charming]

Our first camping trip was a couple of nights at Huntington Beach state park in SC. It was very hot so no one was using the firepits.

Yesterday afternoon we drove through Myrtle Beach State Park because we were thinking about going there for our next camping trip. Now MB has a much heavier tree canopy than Huntington and the campsites are much closer and a lot more of them; but I could hardly breath from the smoke. Was this a fluke? Or is it something we should be concerned with camping in cooler weather at any park?

[Terryallan]

We toast our english muffins and sausage in the am , and our s'mores in the evening over the fire .


You seem to cook over the fire as well. That is why we just use wood.

[ryegatevt]

Many decades ago my father had a saying: Injun build small fire, cook food. Tenderfoot build big fire, cook self."

[D___M]

charming wrote:
😮
LOL - My second topic on here and I have started a war, who knew?

It's not hard to do here. Settle back, garb a bag of popcorn and enjoy the show. These are usually good for 10 pages before the mod cuts them off.

[Lowsuv]

we cook on a coleman stove and a portable grill .
The OSB does not comprise the whole fire.
The OSB squares are used to stop a smoky fire and get the fire going again .
The OSB squares are not placed on the sides of the fire .
The OSB squares are placed directly on the top of the fire and parallel to the ground .
For those that burn leaves at home the same principle works to keep a yard debris fire going .
Try it once . It becomes very clear after that .

[Terryallan]

Lowsuv wrote:
There is a solution . It is cheap but requires planning .
I ask permission from contractors to gather up their OSB (Oriented Strand Board ) trims from construction sites .
With my 12 inch mitre saw I cut these OSB trims perfectly to nest in a cardboard box .
I carry a couple of boxes of OSB trims in my pickup bed for camping in the shoulder seasons.
I use this with the (usually wet ) wood that I find near our campsite .
If the fire starts smoking I place an OSB square on top of the smoky fire.
The OSB reflects the heat down and the fire stops smoking immediately .
We camp mostly with no hookups . In the NFS , BLM , NPS , sites we use the steel ring of course.
We have a campfire every morning and every night . It is an attraction point for our fellow campers .
We toast our english muffins and sausage in the am , and our s'mores in the evening over the fire .
"Without a fire , it is just RV'ing "
We use the OSB squares one piece at a time , only when our fire gets smoky.
Unless you have actually tried it you cannot imagine how effective this is to stop a smoky fire .
Remember to place the OSB square on Top of the fire parallel to the ground .
The reflected heat gets the fire burning good again.
Whatever chemical concerns the inexperienced may have are not founded .
The hot fire sends heat upward and is dispersed easily in the fresh air .
Try it once .
Then form your own conclusion .

Do you cook on it???? OSB is not real wood in the strick sense. All the resins,(glue) pesticide, wax, and bonding material. I'm afraid I'd have to pass on cooking on OSB, as I would plywood.

[twins89]

We have a lot of kindling that I pick up from construction sites or friends give us. Pine usually. It is cut into about 6-8 lengths then stacked in a Lincoln log fashion in a square. Put a few pieces of crumpled newspaper in side the square and light a match. Works every time. If we forget the kindling and have to gather some sticks we try the same procedure but may need to use the bellows we have for the just in case. Bellows are great to have - beats a fan or blowing on the fire.

[Lowsuv]

There is a solution . It is cheap but requires planning .
I ask permission from contractors to gather up their OSB (Oriented Strand Board ) trims from construction sites .
With my 12 inch mitre saw I cut these OSB trims perfectly to nest in a cardboard box .
I carry a couple of boxes of OSB trims in my pickup bed for camping in the shoulder seasons.
I use this with the (usually wet ) wood that I find near our campsite .
If the fire starts smoking I place an OSB square on top of the smoky fire.
The OSB reflects the heat down and the fire stops smoking immediately .
We camp mostly with no hookups . In the NFS , BLM , NPS , sites we use the steel ring of course.
We have a campfire every morning and every night . It is an attraction point for our fellow campers .
We toast our english muffins and sausage in the am , and our s'mores in the evening over the fire .
"Without a fire , it is just RV'ing "
We use the OSB squares one piece at a time , only when our fire gets smoky.
Unless you have actually tried it you cannot imagine how effective this is to stop a smoky fire .
Remember to place the OSB square on Top of the fire parallel to the ground .
The reflected heat gets the fire burning good again.
Whatever chemical concerns the inexperienced may have are not founded .
The hot fire sends heat upward and is dispersed easily in the fresh air .
Try it once .
Then form your own conclusion .

[deleted-2]

Kemosabe no longer need fire and smoke!
Stay warm by hugging smartphone now.

[charming]

😮

LOL - My second topic on here and I have started a war, who knew?

To set the record straight - I am not anti campfire. We even plan to ask our scout master SIL how to start a proper camp fire. I don't mind some smoke, I think an early poster had the answer - no breeze which is odd for a beach front park.

I suppose I could have really put my foot in it by mentioning the idiots who use a half can of lighter fluid to start the charcoal rather than a nice chimney.

I think for now, I will try to steer clear of the more controversial threads, for my own safety. 😉

[Mr__Camper]

I understand and agree with those who complain about the selling and burning of green wood. Having said that, campfires are one of the best things about the camping lifestyle. I have breathing issues and to solve the problem many years ago we bought a propane firepit. That doesn't stop others from burning wood but it wouldn't be right for me to complain about their doing so. It's my problem and when it gets to be too much, I'll go inside. Remember there is a difference between a campfire and a bonfire.

[Crowe]

Dennis, well put. I'm the first one to agree that camping and campfires go hand-in-hand but I've also had issues with asthma. Whether or not campfires are allowed isn't a criteria we use when selecting a campground. I love wide-open windows with the Fantastic Fan on pulling clean, cool air from outside. If it's hot, the a/c is on. If it's cool/cold, windows are open. If it's cool and smoky, we close up until campfires are out, then open up. I love sitting around the campfire but I'll admit I like being able to breathe without the aid of an inhaler better.

[mockturtle]

Dennis, I heartily agree! One night at a beach site on the Oregon coast, the idiot next door left his fire smoldering and went to bed. In the middle of the night, the wind (not surprisingly) erupted, resurrecting the fire and blowing glowing embers right under our motorhome. I got up at 2:00 AM and buried it with sand while they slept soundly. :M

[Go_Dogs]

IMO. You WILL be exposed to: wood,(from various types of wood) smoke, cigar/cigarette smoke, grills/BBQS, diesel generators, chlorine from the pool, dog poop, dogs barking, foul language, screaming kids, loud music, etc., in a public campground. If any of this bothers you, don't go there.
Oh yes, I forgot to mention bugs, rain, sun, wind, etc.,
and I wouldn't have it any other way!

[D___M]

charming wrote:
Our first camping trip was a couple of nights at Huntington Beach state park in SC. It was very hot so no one was using the firepits.

Yesterday afternoon we drove through Myrtle Beach State Park because we were thinking about going there for our next camping trip. Now MB has a much heavier tree canopy than Huntington and the campsites are much closer and a lot more of them; but I could hardly breath from the smoke. Was this a fluke? Or is it something we should be concerned with camping in cooler weather at any park?

As long as you are in a park that allows campfires, there will be varying amounts of smoke at various times on various days. It's impossible to predict. As someone else said, if you are concerned about this camping may not be for you. I don't know your tolerance for smoke. What is dreadful to you , others may not even notice.

Or you need to research the campgrounds that don't allow campfires. Most CGs in your area that are right on the beach don't allow them.

People can rant and rave about them, but until the free market decides, campfires will be found in campgrounds.

[full_mosey]

Many people think camping and RVing are synonyms. 🙂

HTH;
John