Campfire Safety and Etiquette at UK Campsites: The Real Rules

Start here: most UK campsites ban fires on open ground. Before you picture a crackling blaze under the stars, check the site rules, because plenty of parks allow no fires at all, and many that do permit them only in a raised fire pit or a fire bowl kept off the grass. Assuming a fire is fine is the single most common mistake campers make.

Where fires are allowed, the rest is simple: keep it small, keep water to hand, never leave it unattended, burn only dry seasoned or kiln-dried wood, and drown it out stone cold before you turn in. Get those right and you protect the site, your neighbours and yourself. If you want to actually cook on the flames rather than just sit by them, our guide to campfire cooking essentials covers the kit and technique.

This is the safety and etiquette guide from Camping Sites in Britain, where you can find and compare campsites, caravan parks and glamping across the UK, including the ones that allow fires and the ones that do not.

Check the site first, every time

The campsite's own rules override everything else, so ask before you arrive. Fire policy varies enormously between parks, and the same site can change its stance overnight in a dry spell. Look for the rule on the booking page, in the welcome pack, or ask reception directly.

You will usually meet one of four policies. Knowing which one you are dealing with tells you exactly what to pack.

Site policy	What it means for you
No fires at all	Common on grass pitches and family parks. Use a gas stove or the site's facilities instead.
Raised fire pit or fire bowl only	Fire must sit off the ground on legs or a stand. Bring your own or hire the site's.
Designated communal fire area	One shared fire circle away from tents. No fires at individual pitches.
Ground fires permitted	Rare, usually wild or off-grid sites. Clear the ground and follow the Countryside Code.

Off-grid and wild pitches are a different matter again. Away from a managed campsite you need the landowner's permission for any fire, and the Countryside Code on gov.uk is blunt about it: be careful with barbecues, and do not have open fires, because a single stray ember can start a wildfire. That warning matters most on moorland, heath and in dry summer weather, when fires spread fast and take hold underground in peat.

Why the rules are strict

Campfires cause wildfires, and UK wildfires have become more frequent and more severe. Moorland and heathland are the worst places to get it wrong, because dry vegetation and peat can carry fire below the surface long after the flames look out, then flare up hours later. Fire and rescue services see a clear spike in countryside fires during warm, dry spells.

This is why so many sites tighten or suspend fire permissions in summer, and why the Countryside Code leads with fire caution. It is not the site being fussy. A fire that gets away from you on dry ground can burn acres, threaten wildlife and livestock, and put you on the hook for the damage.

How to build and contain a fire safely

If your site allows a fire, contain it properly from the first match. A safe fire is a small, well-sited one you never take your eyes off. Follow these steps in order.

• Use the right base. A raised fire pit or bowl keeps heat off the grass and stops scorch marks. If a ground fire is genuinely permitted, clear a wide circle down to bare soil and ring it with stones, well away from tents, hedges, overhanging branches and dry grass.
• Keep water and a bucket to hand. Have a full bucket of water or a hose within arm's reach before you light anything, not once the fire is going.
• Keep it small. A modest fire is easier to control, throws less smoke and is quicker to put out. You do not need a bonfire to stay warm or toast a marshmallow.
• Never leave it unattended. Not for a quick trip to the toilet block, not for five minutes. An adult stays with the fire until it is fully out.
• Mind the wind. Do not light up in gusty conditions, and site the fire so smoke and sparks blow away from tents and neighbours. Sparks travel further than you think.

For the full method, from tinder to a steady burn, see our step-by-step on how to build a campfire.

Keep children and the fire well apart

Children and fire need constant, hands-on supervision, because a toddler can reach a flame or a hot fire bowl in a heartbeat. Set a clear no-go zone around the fire and enforce it. Remember that a metal fire bowl and the stones around a pit stay dangerously hot long after the flames die down, so the burn risk does not end when the fire does.

Only burn the right wood

Burn dry, seasoned or kiln-dried wood, and nothing else. Wet or green wood barely burns, throws out choking smoke that drifts across the whole site, and coats your pit in tar. In England, wood sold in small quantities must now be certified under the Ready to Burn scheme, run by Woodsure on behalf of Defra, which guarantees a moisture content of 20 per cent or less. Look for the Ready to Burn logo when you buy.

Just as important is what you must not burn. Do not burn household rubbish, plastic, treated or painted timber, or anything with a coating, as they give off toxic fumes. Do not snap live wood or forage green branches from trees and hedges, which is damaging, often not yours to take, and will not burn anyway. Buy your firewood locally where you can, which also helps stop tree pests hitching a ride between regions.

For a proper breakdown of species, moisture and smoke, read our guide to the best firewood for campfires.

Put it out cold before you leave

A fire is only out when it is cold to the touch, not when the flames have gone. Warm embers can reignite hours later, so never walk away from a smouldering pit. Work through this each time.

• Let the wood burn down to ash where you can, rather than piling on fuel late in the evening.
• Pour water over the whole fire, slowly, until the hissing stops completely.
• Stir the ashes with a stick or spade and pour on more water, making sure every ember is soaked.
• Feel for heat with the back of your hand held just above the ashes. If you feel any warmth, add more water and stir again.
• Once the ashes are stone cold, scatter them widely on bare ground or bag them for the site's disposal point. Never bury hot ashes, as insulated embers can keep burning underground.

Disposable barbecues are a fire in disguise

Treat a disposable barbecue exactly like an open fire, because that is what it is. Many campsites and beaches ban them outright, and some councils prohibit them across parks and open land during high fire-risk periods. Never set one on grass or a picnic bench, as they scorch through both. Cooking in an enclosed space is a separate and deadly hazard: read our warning on the dangers of cooking in a tent, because a cooling barbecue keeps producing carbon monoxide long after the coals stop glowing.

When you are done, drown a disposable barbecue in water until it is completely cold, which takes far longer than you expect, then put it in a metal bin or the site's designated point. A warm barbecue dropped in a normal bin has started plenty of fires.

Campfire etiquette on a busy site

Good fire etiquette comes down to keeping your fire small, your smoke to yourself and your pitch unmarked. On a packed campsite your fire affects everyone downwind of it, so a few habits keep the peace.

• Keep smoke off your neighbours. Position the fire so smoke drifts away from nearby tents and awnings, and dry wood helps here more than anything.
• Respect quiet hours. Wind the fire down as quiet time approaches, and keep voices and music low around it. A late fire circle carries sound across a whole field.
• Leave no scorch marks. This is the heart of Leave No Trace. A raised fire bowl and cold, scattered ashes mean the next camper finds a clean pitch, not a black scar on the grass.
• Take your litter. Foil, cans and bottle tops do not burn away. Pick them out of the ashes and bin them.

Planning a trip and want a site that welcomes fires? Browse and filter options across the country in our campsite listings, and always confirm the fire policy with the site before you book.

Frequently asked questions

Are campfires allowed at UK campsites?

It depends entirely on the site. Many UK campsites ban open ground fires and allow flames only in a raised fire pit or bowl, and some ban fires completely. Always check the site's rules before you arrive, as policies tighten during dry weather.

Can I have a fire directly on the grass?

Usually no. Fires on grass scorch the ground and are banned at most sites. Where fires are allowed, they normally must sit in a raised fire pit or bowl kept off the ground. Only clear a ground fire circle if the site or landowner has specifically permitted it.

What wood can I burn on a campfire?

Burn only dry, seasoned or kiln-dried wood. In England, wood sold in small quantities must be Ready to Burn certified, meaning 20 per cent moisture or less. Never burn rubbish, plastic, treated timber or freshly cut live wood, as they smoke heavily or release toxic fumes.

How do I put a campfire out properly?

Pour water over the whole fire until the hissing stops, stir the ashes with a stick, then add more water. Repeat until the ashes are cold to the touch. Only leave once there is no warmth at all, because embers can reignite hours later.

Are disposable barbecues allowed at campsites?

Often not. Many campsites and beaches ban disposable barbecues, and some councils prohibit them on open land in high fire-risk periods. Never place one on grass or a wooden bench, and drown it in water until completely cold before binning it in a metal container.

Why do so many campsites ban open fires?

Because campfires cause wildfires, especially on moorland and in dry spells, where fire can spread underground through peat. The Countryside Code advises against open fires for this reason. Sites also ban them to prevent scorched pitches and smoke drifting across neighbours.

The short version

Check the site's fire policy first, because most UK campsites ban open ground fires and many allow only a raised pit. Keep any fire small, burn dry certified wood, never leave it unattended, drown it cold before you leave, and take your litter and disposable barbecues home. Do that and you leave nothing behind but a good evening. For cooking on the flames once you have a safe fire going, see our guide to campfire cooking essentials.