I had a conversation with my boyfriend about camp fires and whether they are bad or neutral for the environment. I, the larger environmentalists of the two of us, argued that they were okay because forest fires are a very natural process and people have been using fire for food and heat for thousands of years with minimal effect on the environment. Sure they contribute green house gases but they hold a purpose so they shouldn't be considered a threat. My boyfriend on the other hand, argued that camp fires today are a luxury and that they are only natural when in a forest fire or what not. He said that if everyone used fire to heat their homes instead of electricity we would be worse off.

Who is right? Should camp fires, a relatively harmless family activity, be banned amongst the climate change fight? Or are with fires, are we going to far on our limitations of what is environmental and what is not?

Good question! After doing some research, it seems that many fire experts agree that campfires should be considered a luxury-and that camping stoves should be used for food and proper attire should be used for warmth. This is mostly because many fires have been made incorrectly-causing lasting damage on the environment around them. Some things to keep in mind when building a fire include: Where fires are permitted, use established fire areas, Keep fires small, use only sticks that can be broken by hand, Burn all wood to ash, put out campfires completely, then scatter cooled ashes, and BURN ONLY WOOD!!!

But when it comes to pollution created from fires, Environment Canada had some good input: "Heating with wood causes a major source of contaminant discharge into the air such as: carbon monoxide, volatile organic compounds, fine particulates, nitrogen oxides and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. As the fire burns, complex and volatile combustion products are being boiled or distilled out of the wood. These products, in the form of smoke, enter the air and create pollution. Heating with wood contributes almost 30 per cent of fine particulate emissions in Canada. These particulates in particular are able to penetrate deeply into the lungs. People suffering from cardiovascular and respiratory ailments as well as children and the elderly are vulnerable to the presence of these contaminants in the air." On top of that, here in the Bay Area, the Golden Gate Recreation Area advises not to burn beach or campfires when air pollution is already considered high.

So I'd say that for the natural environment around your campsite and for the overall air quality-it is best to make fires only when safe and completely necessary.