Campfire no no's

VT Skier · 06-20-2015, 12:55 PM

So we are camping this weekend arrived yesterday afternoon, about 4 o'clock a couple of mini vans pull into a site about 5 sites away so it's two families with 4 or 5 kids they set up their tents hey no problem. At around 6 they start a fire no problem at about 8 we start smelling burning plastic......problem as we are down wind. So I throw a leash on the dog and start meandering that way what did I see when I got close.....the kids are throwing their empty water bottles into the fire and the parents are sitting right there not saying a word I did walk up and politely asked if they could stop as we are down wind and it stinks(to say the least) well things were fine until about 20 mins ago they have a fire and it smells like they are burning their garbage. I guess I am going to have to go see the park ranger.

youroo · 06-20-2015, 01:41 PM

Might be Offspring from years ago in a Ohio S/P! There were some (Michigan Cigarette Runners) on their way back from KY. staying overnight in the OSP! They were burning (CAR Tires) in the fire ring!

The Smoke could be seen for Miles! This situation was Handled by (The Sheriff Dept/ The Fire Dept/The OSP/ATF/and The Park Rangers)! Drew quite a Crowd!

Youroo!!

Pitcrew18 · 06-22-2015, 10:00 AM

Some parents really know how their bring up their kids.

**Iwritecode** · 06-22-2015, 11:27 AM

You were lucky the parents were there. In my experience, it's usually the kids playing in the fire with the parents nowhere to be found.

whj77372 · 06-22-2015, 02:15 PM

The very reason that I don't like fires. Most RV sites are to close to one another and the smoke from some ones fire always blows my way and if it does how do you keep your windows open?

vinmaker · 06-22-2015, 02:27 PM

I think most people will burn just wood. Just like rowdy people making noise at night, you will get people burning trash and stuff.

I think it is all part of camping with the public.

Not much one can do.

Vin.

billb800si · 06-25-2015, 06:29 AM

That's one more reason we don't camp in State Parks. Too rowdy and too many drunks....

**wmtire** · 06-25-2015, 06:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by youroo

Might be Offspring from years ago in a Ohio S/P! There were some (Michigan Cigarette Runners) on their way back from KY. staying overnight in the OSP! They were burning (CAR Tires) in the fire ring!

The Smoke could be seen for Miles! This situation was Handled by (The Sheriff Dept/ The Fire Dept/The OSP/ATF/and The Park Rangers)! Drew quite a Crowd!

Youroo!!

WOW!!!! Depending on how many years ago it was, it wasn't always illegal to burn tires as it is now in most states (it's a maximum $32,500 fine here in LA). However, for those who have never seen a tire burn, it puts out the thickest, stinkiest, black smoke you may see. It also has more BTU's than coal.

It's hard for the mind to imagine someone burning tires in a park. Rocket scientists, they were not.

**KyDan** · 06-25-2015, 06:50 AM

Wow- we camp in state parks all the time!!!
MY last noise problem was at a commercial park where they had mixed
long term with short term sites. The long term renters were friends
with the management so they thought it was OK to sit outside and talk
and laugh until way past midnite!

The real problem was the weather
was great and we had hoped to sleep windows open....

Witch Doctor · 06-25-2015, 06:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by whj77372

The very reason that I don't like fires. Most RV sites are to close to one another and the smoke from some ones fire always blows my way and if it does how do you keep your windows open?

That reminds me of that old saying " Smoke always go's to beauty" I guess you can only hope they put it out at night and don't let it smoke all night. Seen that and been there.

Stormrider151 · 06-25-2015, 06:56 AM

OK, I have to make a confession. When I was 16 years old camping with some buddies we burned a tire to cook hot dogs. Ever eaten a hot dog cooked over a tire? Never burned a tire again. Live and learn.

Taranwanderer · 06-25-2015, 07:00 AM

Another reason I love my Little Red Campfire. Throw in a 20# tank of propane for the weekend, hook it up, and light it. No carrying wood, no trying to light wet wood, and NO smoke. Plus, when I want to go to bed, I turn the knob and shut it off.

I didn't like the idea at first, now I wouldn't be without it.

asquared · 06-25-2015, 01:23 PM

At least they didn't leave it burning all night unattended. I was camping at a NC state park a couple years ago. The people next to me through a tree stump in the fire pit and then took off on their boat. (Boat was beached at the bottom of the site). The fire was blazing over 3 ft high with none of them around. We watched it and DH got the host who said that happens all the time. Host did nothing about it. We ended up spraying a hose on it. When they came back they thought it had just burned out on its own and then tried to do the same thing the next day. This time a park ranger caught it and ended up evicting them.

**wmtire** · 06-25-2015, 01:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by asquared

At least they didn't leave it burning all night unattended. I was camping at a NC state park a couple years ago. The people next to me through a tree stump in the fire pit and then took off on their boat. (Boat was beached at the bottom of the site). The fire was blazing over 3 ft high with none of them around. We watched it and DH got the host who said that happens all the time. Host did nothing about it. We ended up spraying a hose on it. When they came back they thought it had just burned out on its own and then tried to do the same thing the next day. This time a park ranger caught it and ended up evicting them.

Back before GPS days, that was a fishing/boating method to be able to find the way back, by the fire burning on the shore.

**KyDan** · 06-25-2015, 01:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wmtire

Back before GPS days, that was a fishing/boating method to be able to find the way back, by the fire burning on the shore.

We've done exactly that sort of..... we left a coleman pressure lamp burning
on the shore when we went out "cruising in the moonlight".
Still remember it and how magical it is to idle along in the lake with no light
except moon and the marina lights reflecting on the water from a distance.
Way good times!! Thanks for reminding me.

mikel68 · 06-27-2015, 06:07 PM

Funny story, we were in Sequia one summer. I got up early to make breakfast. I had a little fire going, made some of that, "campfire toast", coffee, bacon, and a few other things. My wife and kids finally get up...at least an hour after I started. No worries, everything is sort of warming by the fire. Bit into the first piece of toast...AArrggg, campfire smoke taste, whole breakfast went in to the trash, into one of those bear-proof dumpsters. The coffee was okay.

CNYCamper · 06-27-2015, 07:07 PM

When I was 19 I was with my girlfriend at her parent's camp on Big Moose Lake in the Adirondacks. When it was time to extinguish the camp fire we started toting water up from the lake. Well, I really had to go, so 2 jobs at once as it were while she was down at the water. Think tires smell bad? Man, was I embarrassed. We'll be married 44 yrs in October.

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