AhaBulbStuff Everyone Should Know
AhaBulb: Stuff Everyone Should Know · ahabulb.com/put-out-campfire

Time to leave camp. What's the right way to put out the campfire?

Drown, stir, and drown again, and never leave a campfire that's too hot to touch.

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  1. Bury it under a good thick layer of dirt or sand
  2. Let it burn down until there are no more flames
  3. Drown it with water, stir the ashes, then drown it again ✔

Why: Dirt or sand alone is not enough to put a fire out. Pour water until the hissing stops, stir the ashes with a shovel, and add more water. Hold your hand over the ashes: if it's too hot to touch, it's too hot to leave.

Huh, didn't know that: Hold your hand over the ashes: if it's too hot to touch, it's too hot to leave.

The dad joke
What does a campfire say after a long day of work? I'm burned out!
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References

Answer: Drown it with water, stir the ashes, then drown it again. Dirt or sand alone is not enough to put a fire out. Pour water until the hissing stops, stir the ashes with a shovel, and add more water. Hold your hand over the ashes: if it's too hot to touch, it's too hot to leave.

  1. National Park Service: Minimize Campfire Impacts www.nps.gov/articles/000/idkt-lnt5.htm
    Pour water over your fire, stir, and repeat. Do this until it is cool to the touch to ensure it is completely out and cannot spark later.
    Checked 2026-10-09.
  2. Smokey Bear: How to Put Out a Campfire smokeybear.com/campfire-safety
    don't extinguish a fire with just dirt or sand.
    Checked 2026-10-09.

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