We all share fond memories of roasting s’mores over a fire on summer camping trips, however, knowing campfire safety practices is becoming more important than ever as wildfire seasons grow longer and more dangerous each year.

Campfires can cause lasting impacts to the backcountry, so it may be best to avoid having a campfire altogether, especially during high-risk times. Instead, use a lightweight stove for cooking and enjoy a candle lantern for light. Stoves have become essential equipment for minimal-impact cooking because they are fast, flexible, and eliminate firewood availability as a concern in campsite selection. Stoves operate in almost any weather condition and they Leave No Trace.

If you must have a fire, lessen your impact as best you can. Make sure a campfire is allowed and check fire danger levels and burn bans, which can change daily. Always use established fire-rings, keep fires small by using only sticks from the ground that can be broken by hand, and never leave a fire unattended. When leaving, extinguish your fire with water (not dirt) and carefully feel all sticks, coals, and ashes. If any remaining materials are too warm to touch, it’s too hot to leave. A true Leave No Trace fire shows no evidence of having been constructed.