Camping certainly can not be separated from the bonfire. In addition to warming the cold air, gathering around a campfire can also add to the closeness of each other. Hence, lighting a bonfire is considered an obligation when we are camping.
However, campfire can actually give some negative impacts on the environment. This is because burning wood will release harmful toxic compounds, such as carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides, benzene particles, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
In addition, bonfires also have the potential to cause forest fires if done carelessly. The location where the wood is burned is also likely to experience erosion, affecting the growth of the plants.
Not to mention, campfires can have a bad effect on the ecosystem of wild animals that live in the vicinity. Forcing these animals to move from their habitats which might cause conflict between humans and wild animals.
Therefore, you should be wise when lighting a bonfire while camping. Here are some ways to keep a campfire from having a bad impact on the environment and its inhabitants.
- Make Sure the Fire is Not Too Big
We recommend using lean wood so that the fire is not too big. A large fire will only release more toxic compounds than a small fire. By keeping the fire small, the risk of forest fires can be avoided. This is because control of the fire will be easy to do.
- Use Dry Wood
Choose dry wood that is easy to burn, because the pollutants released will be less. This of course minimizes its impact on the environment. In addition, the less pollutant released tends to be safer for health, especially for people with asthma or other respiratory disorders.
- Turn off the Fire Properly
Don’t leave the fire burning after the campfire circle session is over. Turn it off immediately so that no more pollutants are released by it. However, even turning it off must be correct. Use plenty of water to extinguish it. After that, stir the ashes and flush again with water. This is to ensure that the fire is completely extinguished.
Avoid using earth to put out a bonfire, as it may not be completely extinguished. This can of course have the potential for the fire to re-ignite when you or others are sleeping.
- Find a Wood Substitute
Not only for gathering, campfires when camping are also used for cooking. However, it is advisable to bring a special camping stove instead of using a campfire. This is to reduce air pollution and other adverse effects of using a bonfire for too long.
After all, using the stove to cook is also less time-consuming, cleaner, and easier. It also doesn’t leave a lot of charcoal waste, which makes cleaning sessions easier.
- Prepare the Ring of Fire
Instead, do not directly build a fireplace above the ground. Make a ring of fire filled with mounds of gravel and sand. Make a thick mound so the heat doesn’t hit the ground directly. However, it’s better if you camp in a location that already provides a special circle of bonfires.
Those are some ways to reduce the negative impact of a bonfire. You can light a fire while camping. However, don’t forget not to have a bad effect on the location of the camp and its inhabitants, OK?