Propane campfires are quickly catching on as wood falls out of favour
People are making the switch — it’s safer, healthier and cheaper than the traditional wood campfire
Alice Fox’s carbon footprint is going through the roof. Through her pocketbook, too. And even into her lungs.
Like so many British Columbians at this time of the year, the Surrey resident enjoys a wood campfire — in her case, while camping 10 days at Edgewater Bar, part of Derby Reach Regional Park, on the banks of the Fraser River in north Langley.
For now, wood fires are legal. But it’s just a matter of time before the province and region become tinder dry, and authorities place a ban on the time-honoured wood campfire.
During last year’s extreme forest fire season, consistent with predictions of climate change, the province implemented a campfire ban in the coastal fire region starting July 6 and lasting until Sept. 18 — almost 21/2 months.
Campers need not despair. Propane fire pits with lava rocks are not only safer to use, but healthier on the lungs, and far less expensive than the little bundles of firewood sold in campgrounds.
Fox also has a propane fire pit, but didn’t bring it this trip.
“My preference is wood,” said the former Mountie. “I grew up in rural B.C. But as the fire season progresses I’ve now actually gone over to the propane fire, as well, just because I expect the (wood-burning) fire season to end pretty quick.”
More retail outlets are stocking up all the time on propane fire pits, selling them for about $110 and up.
Tony Dannhauer, general manager of Outland Living in Surrey, said sales have increased 40-fold since his company launched its madein-China propane “fire bowl” in 2012, picked up a year later by Costco. The company claims consumers can get about 12 hours of low flame from one propane tank.
“Massive changes,” Dannhauer said. “We are a very quickly growing company.”
Wildfires in areas such as California have greatly fanned sales, the company adding a patio fire table to its product line two years ago. Buyers also use propane fire pits for backyards to avoid smoking out neighbours.
“The campfire is such a primal instinct for people, a source of warmth and safety,” he said.
Fire pits connect to standard 20-pound propane tanks and are widely allowed at campgrounds, even during campfire bans. They can be so safe that you can put your hand underneath them, even when lit, without burning yourself, thereby reducing the risk of igniting dry grasses or wood debris underneath.
David Karn, spokesman for the Ministry of Environment, confirmed: “During the fire ban/restricted period, campers may choose to use propane fire pits as an alternative to wood-burning fires.” He added that some contracted operators have started to rent out propane fire pits in B.C. Parks campgrounds.
Metro Vancouver also allows propane fire pits at Edgewater Bar during wood campfire bans.
The burning of both propane and wood generates greenhouses gases, though wood is a renewable resource. Propane also can’t compete with a smoky wood fire for keeping pesky mosquitoes at bay, a seemingly greater problem this season due to high water levels from the spring freshet. Propane lacks that comforting crackle in the evening. And there’s the environmental cost of producing and transporting the propane, and manufacturing the tanks to bottle it.
Problem is, wood fires are far more toxic to humans, especially in a campground setting, where potentially dozens can be burning at the same time.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates that the cancer risk from wood smoke is 12 times greater than that of second-hand tobacco smoke. Wood smoke produces tiny particulates less than 2.5 microns that settle in the lungs.
“These microscopic particles can get into your eyes and respiratory system, where they may cause burning eyes, runny nose, and illnesses, such as bronchitis,” the EPA says. “Fine particles can also trigger heart attacks, stroke, irregular heart rhythms, and heart failure, especially in people who are already at risk for these conditions.”
The campfire is such a primal instinct for people, a source of warmth and safety.” Tony Dannhauer, GM, Outland Living, Surrey
Here’s how Jens Wieting, senior forest and climate campaigner with Sierra Club B.C., sees it: “Generally, use of propane is easier to control and will result in fewer emissions and less pollutants directly related to the use of the fuels.
“As for use of all fossil fuels, using less is better to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Consumers who prefer firewood should find out where the wood they buy comes from and seek to avoid wood sourced from destructive logging disrupting the ability of forests to sequester carbon for a long time. Buying local can avoid additional emissions from transportation.”
For about a $25 fill-up, a 20-pound propane tank is a bargain compared with $6 for a small bundle of wood sold to campers at Edgewater Bar, lasting 60-90 minutes.
Fox typically goes through three bundles of wood a night, so rather than order day by day she had $200 worth dumped at her campsite — enough to create her own wall of wood.
One older man smiled and gave her the thumbs up as he drove past.
“It gets a little bit expensive,” Fox allowed. “I’ve got a lot.”
(People with their own access to wood, of course, would find the traditional wood campfire more affordable.)
If you have to pitch camp at night in the rain, the propane fire pit is also easy to start, no fighting with wet wood. Put a grill over the propane fire pit and you can also heat water and cook with a pot or frying pan.
Fox predicts that given the state of B.C.’s forests in summer, including those killed by beetles, the wood campfire could be on its way out. “You have to be socially responsible, and I think there’s going to be a time when this is going to be a way of the past.”
At about that time in the interview, a spark flew out from Fox’s wood campfire and seared this reporter’s jeans and burned a hole through a white shirt — admittedly, not the best choice for campfire research.
“Oh boy, safety is a big issue,” Fox confirmed. She keeps a bucket of water from the Fraser River nearby and makes sure her campfire is completely out at day’s end. “I have a couple of holes in my chair. I’m not going to lie.”