Campfires and You
June 16th 2009 15:26
Although fires are naturally occurring there are many artificial fires in backyards and parks across the world. Wildfires strike arid regions of the world every year causing untold amounts of destruction to both natural and man-made structures. But how much of an impact do fires have on our environment, and what can you do to help?
A backyard camp/bon fire should be fueled with natural cut wood. A good source is construction projects which cut down and remove trees. Often they will let you have scraps left over from cutting. For kindling the trees in your yard may yield some nice dry sticks to burn. Treated lumber is not the best thing to burn as the chemicals in the wood can be released with heat during combustion. A natural fire release chemical and thermal energy and is a very clean process. The ash and clinker (non-burned material) are easily disposed of and break down well naturally.
Burning trash or other products should be avoided. Plastics, when broken down by heat, release poisonous gasses containing dioxins which have been linked to a number of health problems. Rubber and trash can also produce harmful airborne toxins that can blow quite a distance from the fire itself. Another byproduct of burning anything is particulate. That is, the fallout from material picked up by updrafts in the fire and put into the air. When biodegradable materials are released it is OK because it will break down, but as far as we know, plastic particulate will not break down and may remain in the ground/water for a very long time.
The exciting conclusion is that yes it is OK to have a campfire. Remember that prolonged smoke inhalation can be harmful though, and please remember only wood, not trash!
A backyard camp/bon fire should be fueled with natural cut wood. A good source is construction projects which cut down and remove trees. Often they will let you have scraps left over from cutting. For kindling the trees in your yard may yield some nice dry sticks to burn. Treated lumber is not the best thing to burn as the chemicals in the wood can be released with heat during combustion. A natural fire release chemical and thermal energy and is a very clean process. The ash and clinker (non-burned material) are easily disposed of and break down well naturally.
Burning trash or other products should be avoided. Plastics, when broken down by heat, release poisonous gasses containing dioxins which have been linked to a number of health problems. Rubber and trash can also produce harmful airborne toxins that can blow quite a distance from the fire itself. Another byproduct of burning anything is particulate. That is, the fallout from material picked up by updrafts in the fire and put into the air. When biodegradable materials are released it is OK because it will break down, but as far as we know, plastic particulate will not break down and may remain in the ground/water for a very long time.
The exciting conclusion is that yes it is OK to have a campfire. Remember that prolonged smoke inhalation can be harmful though, and please remember only wood, not trash!
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