What’s better than the opportunity to enjoy a fire while camping? Although there are times when fire bans are in place, especially in summer, outdoor fires are one of the perks of camping, particularly in the cooler months.
Things to Consider Before Lighting a Fire
- Find out if you are permitted to light a fire in the area by following the 3-step tool on the Fire and Emergency New Zealand website.
- Use an existing fire pit if possible, to reduce the impact on the environment. Campsite listings on Plan My Walk include where fire pits are available.
- The fire site needs to be flat and have an area of about a metre around it that is clear of any sticks and foliage that could catch fire.
- Store additional firewood at least 3 metres away from the fire.
- Never leave a fire unattended.
Tips for Building a Fire
- A fire needs three things to be successful: fuel (tinder/paper, kindling and wood), oxygen and heat.
- Design your fire in a teepee shape to allow space for oxygen.
- Layer up your fuel to allow oxygen to flow through the different layers:
- thin tree bark, dry leaves or small twigs (tinder) or paper
- small sticks around 2cm in diameter (kindling)
- bigger pieces of wood about the diameter of your wrist.
- Ignite the tinder from the base of the fire
- Blowing gently on the fire will provide more oxygen to help the flames ignite the wood faster.
How to Extinguish a Fire
Wind can fan a fire and spread sparks, so it is critical to properly extinguish an outdoor fire before leaving the fire site to ensure it doesn’t spread. Plan ahead and stop adding wood to the fire so that it burns down to embers, making it easier to extinguish.
To ensure the fire is completely extinguished:
- Pour water over the embers.
- Turn the embers over with a stick and pour more water over them.
- Repeat this process until it is cool to touch.
What to Do Next
Continue your preparation with our online resources. There is still plenty to learn to ensure a safe and enjoyable trip!
Explore Our Resources
- Plan My Walk app | Use our free trip planning tool to find campsites that have fire pits, get alerts, build a gear list and share your plan with others before you go
- Get more skills | Cooking in the outdoors, Camping and other essentials in our Skills Section
- Watch our how-to videos | There are plenty more useful tips in our video section
- Read our manuals | Access the NZ Bushcraft Manual and other free learning resources here
- Learn more about Fire Safety in NZ | Fire and Emergency NZ
- Lighting fires on public conservation land | DOC