How To Put Out A Campfire: 10 Steps (with Pictures) - WikiHow

Home » How To Put Out A Campfire » How To Put Out A Campfire: 10 Steps (with Pictures) - WikiHow

Maybe your like

Skip to ContentQuizzes
  • Home
  • Random
  • Browse Articles
  • Quizzes & Games
  • All QuizzesHot
  • Love Quizzes
  • Personality Quizzes
  • Fun Games
  • Dating Simulator
  • Learn Something New
  • Forums
  • Courses
  • Happiness Hub
  • Explore More
  • Support wikiHow
  • About wikiHow
  • Log in / Sign up
Terms of Use wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. Learn why people trust wikiHow How to Put Out a Campfire PDF download Download Article Reviewed by Ky Furneaux

Last Updated: March 10, 2025 References

PDF download Download Article
  • Extinguishing a Campfire With Water
    • |
  • Smothering a Fire with Dirt or Sand
    • |
  • Expert Q&A
|Show more |Show less X

This article was reviewed by Ky Furneaux. Ky Furneaux is a survival expert, outdoor guide, and professional stuntwoman based in Australia. She’s been featured in over 100 films and TV productions, and has hosted, produced, and participated in some of the most extreme TV survival shows including MTV’s Made and Discovery’s Naked and Afraid. She has authored 5 survival books, including "The Superwoman’s Survival Guide" and "Survive: The All-In-One Guide to Staying Alive in Extreme Conditions", with the goal of sharing her knowledge of survival techniques with others. As an accomplished stuntwoman, she won a Taurus Award in 2012 for Best Female Stunt Performer and has doubled stars like Jennifer Garner, Anne Hathaway, Jaime Alexander, and Sharon Stone. This article has been viewed 105,657 times.

Sitting around a fire is one of the highlights of going camping. However, leaving your campsite before fully extinguishing the fire can start forest fires or burn another camper. For these reasons, it's important that you fully extinguish a fire when you're done with it. Luckily, you can safely extinguish your campfire with water, sand, or dirt.

Steps

Method 1 Method 1 of 2:

Extinguishing a Campfire With Water

PDF download Download Article
  1. Watermark wikiHow to Put Out a Campfire 1 Drown the campfire in water. Fill a bucket with water and pour it on top of the campfire. Don't stand directly above or downhill from the fire to avoid inhaling smoke or hot steam.[1] Continue pouring water over the fire until all the hissing from the hot embers stops.[2]
  2. Watermark wikiHow to Put Out a Campfire 2 Mix up the ashes and embers. Use a stick or shovel to mix up the ashes and embers into the soil. As you stir the remnants of the fire, you may uncover more red embers or burning wood which must be extinguished before you leave.[3] Advertisement
  3. Watermark wikiHow to Put Out a Campfire 3 Scrape off the burnt parts on the sticks and logs. Use your stick or shovel to scrape off any partially burnt sticks or logs to ensure that they are fully extinguished. This may reveal more burning embers under the surface of the wood.[4]
  4. Watermark wikiHow to Put Out a Campfire 4 Pour more water on the fire. After you've stirred the fire thoroughly, you'll want to add more water to it to extinguish any remaining embers that may have come off burning pieces of wood.
  5. Watermark wikiHow to Put Out a Campfire 5 Feel the logs and coals to make sure they aren't hot. Put your palms up next to logs and coals. If you don't feel any heat radiating off of them, you can touch them with your hands.
    • Any warm or hot pieces of your fire must be doused down with more water.
  6. Watermark wikiHow to Put Out a Campfire 6 Repeat the steps until the fire is cool to the touch. Continue dousing the area and mixing the soot and embers to ensure that you've put out the fire fully. The fire is fully extinguished when it's completely cool to the touch.
    • The rocks surrounding the fire should be cool to the touch when the fire is fully extinguished.
    7. Advertisement
Method 2 Method 2 of 2:

Smothering a Fire with Dirt or Sand

PDF download Download Article
  1. Watermark wikiHow to Put Out a Campfire 1 Wait until the fire dies down. Plan on leaving the campsite when your fire completely dies down. Do not add logs to your fire if you know you are leaving soon so that the fire can stop burning. If you need to extinguish the fire quickly, this is not an ideal method. Instead, use water to put out your fire.
  2. Watermark wikiHow to Put Out a Campfire 2 Mix the ashes together with a stick or a shovel. Use a shovel or a long stick to poke the embers left over in the fire. Uncover large unburnt logs or sticks to make sure that there are no embers remaining under the ashes.
  3. Watermark wikiHow to Put Out a Campfire 3 Stir dirt or sand into the embers. You just want enough dirt or sand to smother the embers and to extinguish the fire fully. Do not cover or bury the fire, as this could create a fire under the surface of the dirt that could reignite later and will make the sand or dirt incredibly hot.
  4. Watermark wikiHow to Put Out a Campfire 4 Touch the fire to make sure the fire has been put out. Put your hand a couple of inches away from the coals in the fire to make sure that it's cooled off. If it still feels warm, repeat the steps until the ashes are completely cooled.[5]
    5. Advertisement

Expert Q&A

Search Add New Question
  • Question Does water put out fire? Britt Edelen Britt Edelen BA in English Literature, Brown University Britt Edelen comes to wikiHow after graduating in 2019 from Brown University, where he studied English and German literature and philosophy. While at Brown he contributed frequently to campus publications and worked in the university’s Writing Center. More recently, he has had several articles published in various journals devoted to literary criticism. During his time at wikiHow, Britt supervised and collaborated with writers and editors to continue producing high-quality content and promote wikiHow’s mission of enabling everyone to learn anything. Britt Edelen Britt Edelen BA in English Literature, Brown University Expert Answer Yes, but it's best to put the campfire out in sections, and take your time between sections since there will be a lot of smoke. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 0 Helpful 1
  • Question How do I put out a fire in a non-developed community? Stephanie Thomas Stephanie Thomas Community Answer take the oxygen away from the flame because fire needs oxygen. Either use a blanket or a tarp to smother the flame. The best method, in my opinion, is to kick or shovel dirt onto the fire. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 8 Helpful 10
  • Question How do I turn fire off without any tools like water? Community Answer Community Answer You can't turn it off, but you can wait for it to die down (be sure to watch it!) and then stomp on the ashes. You could also smother it with a fireproof blanket if you have one on hand. Don't pour other liquids besides water on it, you never know what could cause it to explode or grow. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 5 Helpful 9
Ask a Question 200 characters left Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. Submit Advertisement

Tips

Submit a Tip All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published Name Please provide your name and last initial Submit Thanks for submitting a tip for review!

You Might Also Like

Start a BonfireHow toStart a Bonfire Put Out a Fire in a FireplaceSimple Ways to Extinguish a Fire in a Fireplace Build a CampfireHow toBuild a Campfire Dispose of Burnt Firewood and Ash SafelyHow toDispose of Burnt Firewood and Ash Safely Build a FireA Step-by-Step Guide for Successfully Making a Fire Build a Campfire PitHow toBuild a Campfire Pit Start a Fire with Wet WoodHow toStart a Fire with Wet Wood Put Out a Fire8 Ways to Put Out a Fire Keep a Fire BurningHow to Keep a Fire Burning & Make It Last Longer Boil Water over a FireHow toBoil Water over a Fire Make a Bonfire with Lighter FluidHow toMake a Bonfire with Lighter Fluid Have a BonfireHow toHave a Bonfire Burn Paper SafelyHow toBurn Paper Safely Help Prevent BushfiresBushfire Prevention Strategies You Can Do at Home Advertisement

References

  1. ↑ http://www.campfiredude.com/campfire-extinguish.shtml
  2. ↑ https://smokeybear.com/en/prevention-how-tos/campfire-safety/how-to-maintain-and-extinguish-your-campfire
  3. ↑ Britt Edelen. Outdoor Educator. Expert Interview
  4. ↑ https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/okawen/alerts-notices/?cid=fsbdev3_053601
  5. ↑ https://www.backpacker.com/survival/how-to-put-out-a-fire-properly

About This Article

Ky Furneaux Reviewed by: Ky Furneaux Survival and Outdoors Expert This article was reviewed by Ky Furneaux. Ky Furneaux is a survival expert, outdoor guide, and professional stuntwoman based in Australia. She’s been featured in over 100 films and TV productions, and has hosted, produced, and participated in some of the most extreme TV survival shows including MTV’s Made and Discovery’s Naked and Afraid. She has authored 5 survival books, including "The Superwoman’s Survival Guide" and "Survive: The All-In-One Guide to Staying Alive in Extreme Conditions", with the goal of sharing her knowledge of survival techniques with others. As an accomplished stuntwoman, she won a Taurus Award in 2012 for Best Female Stunt Performer and has doubled stars like Jennifer Garner, Anne Hathaway, Jaime Alexander, and Sharon Stone. This article has been viewed 105,657 times. 12 votes - 77% Co-authors: 13 Updated: March 10, 2025 Views: 105,657 Categories: Fire Emergencies Article SummaryX

To put out a campfire quickly, start by filling a bucket with water and pouring it over the campfire until the hot embers stop hissing. Next, mix the ashes and embers into the soil, and pour more water on the fire to make sure you didn’t miss any embers. Once the logs appear cool, hover your hand over them to see if you can sense any heat. If not, then touch the logs and coals to make sure there are no remaining hot spots. If there are, then repeat the process to make sure you've fully extinguished your fire. To learn how to use sand and dirt to put out a campfire, keep reading! Did this summary help you?YesNo

In other languages Spanish German
  • Print
  • Send fan mail to authors
Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 105,657 times.

Reader Success Stories

  • Anonymous

    Anonymous

    Feb 28, 2019

    "Thanks a lot, it helped me. I had a very big fire to put out."
Share your story

Did this article help you?

Yes No Advertisement Cookies make wikiHow better. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Ky Furneaux Reviewed by: Ky Furneaux Survival and Outdoors Expert 12 votes - 77% Click a star to vote Co-authors: 13 Updated: March 10, 2025 Views: 105,657 Anonymous

Anonymous

Feb 28, 2019

"Thanks a lot, it helped me. I had a very big fire to put out." Share yours!

Quizzes & Games

How Good Are My Survival Instincts QuizHow Good Are My Survival Instincts QuizTake QuizDeserted Island Simulator: Test Your Survival SkillsDeserted Island Simulator: Test Your Survival SkillsPlayHow Long Would You Survive In A Zombie Apocalypse?How Long Would You Survive In A Zombie Apocalypse?PlayDo I Have Common Sense QuizDo I Have Common Sense QuizTake QuizAm I Smart QuizAm I Smart QuizTake QuizWhat Kind of Minecraft Player Am I QuizWhat Kind of Minecraft Player Am I QuizTake Quiz

You Might Also Like

Start a BonfireHow toStart a BonfirePut Out a Fire in a FireplaceSimple Ways to Extinguish a Fire in a FireplaceBuild a CampfireHow toBuild a CampfireDispose of Burnt Firewood and Ash SafelyHow toDispose of Burnt Firewood and Ash Safely

Featured Articles

Remove Shorts from Search Results on YouTubeHow toRemove Shorts from Search Results on YouTubeWhat Are the Korean Animal Face Types? (And Which Type Do You Have?)What Are the Korean Animal Face Types? (And Which Type Do You Have?)Being the Little Spoon While Cuddling: Is It Better Than the Big Spoon?Being the Little Spoon While Cuddling: Is It Better Than the Big Spoon?115+ Funny “Get Well Soon” Messages to Make Someone Laugh115+ Funny “Get Well Soon” Messages to Make Someone Laugh110+ “Fun Facts” for Interviews, Introductions, & Icebreakers110+ “Fun Facts” for Interviews, Introductions, & IcebreakersHow Long Would You Survive In A Zombie Apocalypse?How Long Would You Survive In A Zombie Apocalypse?

Trending Articles

Which Fictional Character Would Crush On You?Which Fictional Character Would Crush On You?Who Is Secretly Crushing On Me Right Now QuizWho Is Secretly Crushing On Me Right Now QuizAttractiveness Score QuizAttractiveness Score QuizIs My Crush Pretending Not to Like Me QuizIs My Crush Pretending Not to Like Me QuizHypersexuality TestHypersexuality TestWhat Are the Gay Male Body Types (And Which Do You Have?)What Are the Gay Male Body Types (And Which Do You Have?)

Featured Articles

Roast Someone in a Rap Battle (Plus the Best Bars of All Time)How to Roast Someone in a Rap Battle (Plus the Best Bars of All Time)What Turns a Girl On? 31 Things to Try on Your PartnerWhat Turns a Girl On? 31 Things to Try on Your PartnerLove AnalyzerLove AnalyzerSending Your Sweetie a Love Note? Here are 200+ Romantic IdeasSending Your Sweetie a Love Note? Here are 200+ Romantic IdeasExercise Your BrainHow toExercise Your BrainBe a Fun Person to Hang out WithHow toBe a Fun Person to Hang out With

Featured Articles

What Does Your Morning Routine Say About You?What Does Your Morning Routine Say About You?Develop Productive HabitsHow toDevelop Productive HabitsPractice Self CareHow toPractice Self CareWhat Song Matches Your Life Right Now?What Song Matches Your Life Right Now?Will 2026 Be Your Year? Reveal Your FutureWill 2026 Be Your Year? Reveal Your FutureUnderstanding the Most Attractive Face Shapes (& Determining Your Own)Understanding the Most Attractive Face Shapes (& Determining Your Own)

Watch Articles

Tie a Loop KnotHow toTie a Loop KnotMake Body OilHow toMake Body OilMake Almond MilkHow toMake Almond MilkWash White Clothes by HandHow toWash White Clothes by HandSkin a ChickenHow toSkin a ChickenClean Tile Floors with VinegarHow toClean Tile Floors with Vinegar

Trending Articles

What Are My Soulmate's Initials QuizWhat Are My Soulmate's Initials QuizChoose Your Own Adventure GameChoose Your Own Adventure GameYour Red Flag Based On Your Celeb CrushesYour Red Flag Based On Your Celeb Crushes151 of the Juiciest “Most Likely To” Questions to Ask151 of the Juiciest “Most Likely To” Questions to AskAm I Good at Flirting QuizAm I Good at Flirting QuizWhat Is Your Lip Type?What Is Your Lip Type?

Quizzes & Games

What's My Minecraft Style QuizWhat's My Minecraft Style QuizTake QuizMinecraft Trivia QuizMinecraft Trivia QuizTake QuizHow Disgusting Am I QuizHow Disgusting Am I QuizTake QuizWould I Survive a Horror Movie QuizWould I Survive a Horror Movie QuizTake QuizWhich Camp Half-Blood Cabin Would I Live In QuizWhich Camp Half-Blood Cabin Would I Live In QuizTake QuizWhat Element Am I QuizWhat Element Am I QuizTake Quiz wikiHow
  • Categories
  • Home and Garden
  • Disaster Preparedness
  • Fire Emergencies
wikiHow Newsletter You're all set! Helpful how-tos delivered toyour inbox every week! Sign me up! By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy.
  • Home
  • About wikiHow
  • Experts
  • Jobs
  • Contact Us
  • Site Map
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Do Not Sell or Share My Info
  • Not Selling Info
  • Contribute

Follow Us

×

Get all the best how-tos!

Sign up for wikiHow's weekly email newsletter

Subscribe You're all set! X --529

Tag » How To Put Out A Campfire