By the very nature of what it is, and what it can do, I think that putting out your fire deserves its own article, just as much, if not more than actually building one.
Having served for years as a nationally certified firefighter, I’ve worked some wildland fires that were incredible in proportion.
Each year literally thousands of people start brush fires, or woodland, or forest fires with careless behavior.
They start a fire and don’t completely extinguish it, or simple don’t pay attention to where the fire is headed or where it started (surrounded by brush)
I’ve seen full grown people build a fire so high it scorched and caught the upper limbs of trees alight and then laugh, as if it were a joke. Being one of the people with a heavy tank of water on their back, or a rake in their hand, I found it less than amusing.
At the risk of hurting someones feelings.. Don’t be an idiot with your fire.
Put it out at least forty five minutes before you plan to leave so you can be sure its all the way out.
Preplan, don’t add wood the last few hours before you are going to leave so that your fire has burned down to the coals and has more ash than coal. No partially burnt wood should still be remaining.
Sprinkle water over all the coals, which will make steam, so don’t be standing over it as you do this.
Watering your fire
If your fire is still fire, take a large stick and stir it first to get ash on the fire and put as much of it out as you can.
Wet the fire/coals down completely and then stir it several times, rewet it and stir again.
Keep sprinkling water until you don’t hear any noise of heat( the hissing sound) when you water it) Let it sit ten minutes and do it again.
Hold your hand close to the coals, although not touching them, and feel for hot areas.
Resprinkle one more time just to be sure and then stir it.
A forest fire in full motion.
Sound like a lot of work? Think about the hundreds of animals, plants and trees you just saved by five extra minutes of labor.. not to mention the fact that if you burn it down, you will not be able to use it again for years. Seems like its worth the extra effort to me.
Last but not least.. scoop out the wet ash, put it into a trash bag, and carry it into the woods, and spread it around in the woods. This helps to give back something to the area, leaves minimal traces of your fire and is a last positive way to assure that there are no hot coals left.
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