How Campfires Impact The Environment (Good or Bad?)

If you are like many, you have high concerns for the environment. Especially when it comes to burning fuel of any sort, whether it be literal fuel such as gasoline or nature grown fuels such as wood. Focusing more on the burning of wood and natural fuels, today we will be discussing the impact campfires have on the environment. As well as, a comparison between the impact of campfires vs. wildfires and all things fire related…

I am assuming, at some point in your life you have likely experienced how much a wildfire can pollute the environment around. Me personally, I have experienced many wildfires near where I live, and the sheer amount of smoke produced by these wildfires tend to overwhelm the environment with heavy smoke, and a minimized ability to see at a distance that would otherwise be straightforward.

But given how small campfires, or bonfires for that matter are when compared to massive wildfires that burn hundreds, if not thousands of acres of land. I personally feel that a small campfire will produce a significant amount less smoke than that of a wildfire, even if many people in the area are enjoying a backyard bonfire, or backcountry campfire.

However, with enough people having their own backyard, or Backcountry campfires. The amount of smoke output could essentially equate to the same amount of smoke as a moderate wildfire, but this would require a lot of people in a single area to build campfires in the same moment.

Now, The most impactful part of a fire is obviously the smoke. Smoke can come in many different amounts. Ranging from small, such as, like you would see with a campfire, or bonfire. To large, as you would see with a wild forest fire. Also keep in mind, the element fueling the fire can prove to be more of a harm on the environment than other natural elements…

this is assuming the fuel of the fire is that of natural elements such as, Wood, Grass, Leaves and so forth…

How Different Fire Types Impact The Environment

The way many see it is: There are 4 natural elements of this world, Those include:

• Earth
• Air
• Fire
• Water

Basically, fire is a natural occurrence, depending on the situation of course. But speaking specifically on the ignition and fuel of natural fires it is essentially just a part of nature.

Now, Simply assuming that fire is bad for the environment doesn’t exactly make since, especially given it is a natural element of this world. Especially when it is ignited by natural means. For example, when a fire is ignited by a lightning storm passing by.

Though given fire is destructive in many ways. I like to compare naturally started fires to predators found in the wild. Basically speaking, Predatory animals are their to help keep the population of wildlife at an equilibrium with the pray in the area.

So, simply speaking. Predators are their to keep herbivores in balance with the vegetation that is available to feed the ecosystem. Too many herbivores, and not enough food is typically a result of over population. Which leads to a damaged ecosystem, and soon becomes a uninhabitable ecosystem.

Rounding back to the concept of whether or not fire is good or bad for the environment. Assuming fire is bad for the environment is like saying predators are bad for an ecosystem. The way how I see it is, Fire, Specifically natural wildfires are a way to keep the ecosystem in check. Now, of course the main concern to many is the smoke produced by these wild forest fires.

But given how adaptive the ecosystem of the world is its hard to assume that the world doesn’t have a way of cleansing itself.

How Campfires & Bonfires Impact The Environment

Many wonder: “Are campfires or bonfires bad for the environment?”. For the most part this depends on the material you are burning. Burning wood and other natural materials are not seen as bad for the environment. But burning plastics, and manufactured materials alike can defeatedly be bad for the environment. Next time you are having a campfire or bonfire, simply avoid burning any garbage.

Now, this does not mean wood smoke is not a danger to your health, as in most cases inhaling wood or any other naturally fueled smoke can be a danger to your health, not to mention smoke produced from un-natural elements such as plastics fueling a fire. Now, back to burning natural elements, in most cases little / minimal exposure to “Wood smoke” likely won’t do much harm to the majority of humans with good health. However, heavy exposure over time could eventually take it tole.

How Natural Wildfires Impact The Environment

Despite the fact that wildfires such as forest fires are highly destructive. They also tend to heavily pollute the air in the area with smoke.

However, simply assuming that fire in itself is bad for the environment is like saying: predatory animals are bad for the environment because they live off of the lives of other wildlife in the area. Where as in reality, removing predators from the ecosystem can result in a mass over population of specific species. Which in turn can be even more damaging to the environment…

So I guess you could say predators help to maintain balance in the ecosystem. The way I see it, Is fire is there for the same reason: To maintain balance in the vegetation that covers the land. Now, of course this is specifically speaking of naturally started wildfires that occur in the backcountry mountain ranges of the world. Synthetically started fires such as house fires and so forth are a different story.

How Man-Made Structure Fires Impact The Environment

Man made structure fires such as, house fires, are not a natural part of the world we live in. Simply because of how they occur in most cases. As well as, the elements that fuel the fire.

For example, In many house, and local business building fires the elements inside the building that burn are man made materials such as, plastics, composites, rubbers, and all sorts of different man made materials. Given the fact that fire smoke is made up of small particles, those particles are made up of the element that is fueling the fire. So, burning plastic essentially releases small particles of combustion plastic into the atmosphere…

How Smoke Pollution Impacts The Environment

The biggest impact smoke has on the environment is to the health of those in the vicinity. Both humans and wildlife occupy this fine planet we live on. and in areas where air quality is in the toilet, simply having a backyard or backcountry campfire can have its impacts on those in the area. Now, odds are that impact will be minimal if very few people are to have campfires.

Nonetheless, if many in the area decide to have a simple fire, the impact of smoke pollution can become much larger. Which in turn will make the air quality in the area drop that much more.

Campfire Smoke Vs Wildfire Smoke: The Environmental Impact

However, if we are to compare the amount of smoke pollution produced by a wild forest fire to the amount of smoke produced by multiple back yard bonfires. Odds are the wild fire will out pollute 100x or likely 1000x that of multiple backyard or backcountry campfires.

Conclusion

In final, The burning of natural elements / materials in most cases will not harm the environment when done on a small scale, such as when having a backyard bonfire, or backcountry campfire. However, a large quantity of people trying to enjoy a fire could potentially cause an issue for the health of those who abide in the near vicinity of the smoke.

But in most cases, this will require a large quantity of small backyard, and backcountry campfires in order to see a significant effect on the environment. As long as you are burning natural elements such as wood, and you do your best to keep the smoke to a minimum. The impact on the environment should be minimal when compared to wildfires.

Speaking of wildfires. If you have found your self in an area near to where a wildfire is burning. You likely have witnessed the impact that fire had on the environment. Wild forest fires can turn a community with seemingly the cleanest air on earth, into a no go zone for a few days, or even a few weeks maybe months. Wildfires, in most cases will have the largest impact on the environment.

And when comparing the impact a campfire has on the environment to the impact of a wild fire. The comparison is virtually incomparable. Simply because of the sizing of each. When comparing the sizing of each: (To paint a picture) When you look up into the sky, campfires are essentially the size of a star, while wildfires are the size of the sun.

So, essentially a campfire virtually have no impact on the environment when compared to the impact of a wild forest fire. But its important to keep in mind the impact of each is not long lasting, as nature has its way of cleansing its self…

I hope you were able to find some value here! If you have any further questions, or concerns regarding campfires, or backyard bonfires I suggest you check out the Outdoor Luxuriez “Making Fire: Everything Campfires” section of the site. There we go over tips and tactics to make your campfire experience better and safer!

This Is Colt Signing Off!