Building a fire that is safe for the vegetation that surrounds it, or for the users themselves, is not an easy task. Be careful with the stones!
Do you know how to make a bonfire? It seems something easy, you just have to throw some wood, and light them. And so that the fire does not escape, surround it with stones. But be careful with the stones you choose… they can explode!
In most of the forests and natural spaces in Spain, it is forbidden to make bonfires or camping fires. So the first thing is check if it’s legal. There are areas where it is allowed, but you still have to be very careful.
The safest way to do it is surround the fire with stones. In this way you prevent the fire from escaping, and you also stop the wind that could put out the embers. But not any stone will do.
Beware of stones in a camping fire
If you camp near a river do not think of using stones taken from the water, or that are near the bed of the river or lake.
It may seem that, being wet, they are ideal for stopping the fire. But the problem is not the outside water, but the water that can accumulate insider.
As IFL Science explains, the internal water of the rocks, when heated, generates steam, which is expanding rapidly. If the temperature is very high, steam can make rock explode and get thrown into the air, as you can see in this video:
If the stone hits someone on the head, it could cause a serious accident. Even worse can be if it explodes and breaks into pieces, generating splinters that could impact the eyes.
the same danger rocks that appear dry or are not in the river, but are porous. Rainwater may have collected inside, and they could explode for the same reason.
Finally, rocks containing quartz are also dangerouswhich is also a mineral that tends to explode with heat.
The best is use solid, smooth, chunky rocks. These do not present any danger. But sometimes they are not easy to find.
prepare a camping fire with rocks from a river that have water inside them, or that are porous, could cause them to explode with the heat of the fire, causing a serious accident. Avoid them, and you will save yourself trouble.
