The universal rule
If it's too hot to touch, it's too hot to leave. That's the phrase Parks Canada, Alberta Wildfire, and every provincial fire agency repeat because buried coals kill people. A campfire that looks dead can smolder underground for days, climb tree roots, and re-emerge as a wildfire kilometres from where you built it.
In 2023, Canada reported 7,131 wildfires. Roughly half were started by human activity. An unextinguished campfire is one of the most common causes.
The drown-stir-drown-feel method
Every Canadian fire agency teaches the same four-step protocol. Follow it every time, no exceptions.
1. Drown
Pour water over the entire fire bed. Not just the glowing coals. Hit the unburnt ends, the perimeter rocks, and the ash at the bottom. Keep pouring until the hissing stops. In British Columbia, the Wildfire Act requires anyone maintaining a campfire to have at least 8 litres of water on hand before lighting it.
2. Stir
Use a shovel or a sturdy stick to break apart the coals. Turn over the ashes. Scrape the bark off remaining logs. Stir deep into the bottom of the pit to expose insulated hot spots you can't see.
3. Drown again
Pour more water over the stirred embers. The fire bed should become a cold, wet slurry. If you run out of water, you didn't bring enough.
4. Feel
Hover the back of your hand over the ashes. If you feel any heat, go back to step 2. Once nothing radiates warmth, touch the wet ashes directly with your bare hand. If it's cool to the touch, it's safe to leave.
What Canadian regulations say
Rules vary by province, but the basics are consistent across the country.
- Parks Canada: Campfires are only allowed in designated metal fire boxes or rings. Ground fires are illegal in most national park backcountry zones. Leaving a fire unattended is an offence under the Canada National Parks Act.
- British Columbia: Campfires must not exceed 0.5 m wide by 0.5 m high. You must have 8 litres of water or a hand tool on site. Campfire bans are strictly enforced during high-danger periods, and you can be held financially liable for suppression costs.
- Alberta: Alberta Wildfire explicitly states: "Do not bury your fire, as the embers may continue to smoulder and can re-emerge as a wildfire." Under the Forest and Prairie Protection Act, leaving a fire unextinguished carries fines and liability.
- Ontario: When a Restricted Fire Zone is declared, all open fires are illegal, including in provincial parks. Only portable gas or liquid fuel stoves are permitted.
When water isn't enough: the fire blanket advantage
The drown-stir-drown-feel method works for planned campfires in designated rings. But backcountry fires don't always stay contained. A gust of wind, a stray ember, a grease fire on a camp stove. When a fire jumps its ring and starts spreading, you need to smother it in seconds, not wait for water to soak in.
A fire blanket works by cutting off oxygen. Place it over the flames and the fire suffocates. No chemicals, no residue, no cleanup. The FireSafe Wilderness Fire Blanket is built for this: silicone-coated fiberglass that's safe to handle bare-handed, Kevlar-stitched, and certified to EN-1869:2019. It weighs about 1 lb and packs into a standard water bottle sleeve.
For routine campfire extinguishing, use water and follow the four-step method. For fires that spread beyond their ring, a fire blanket gives you a fast, chemical-free way to smother flames before they reach surrounding brush, fuel supplies, or your tent.
What to carry
At minimum, bring enough water to fully drown your fire. In practice, that means a dedicated container you don't drink from. Add a FireSafe to your pack for the fires you can't plan for. Together, they cover both sides of campfire safety: controlled extinguishing and emergency suppression.
For a deeper comparison of fire blankets versus fire extinguishers for backcountry use, see our full breakdown.