Fire pan
Encyclopedia
A fire pan is a pan for holding or conveying fire
which is often used as method for building a Leave No Trace
fire.
, campers
and other outdoor users. The pan is usually a metal tray with rigid sides at least three inches high such as a metal oil drain pan or a backyard barbecue grill.
and rocks, and its compact size results in the burning of less wood. Fire pans also allow users to easily burn their accumulated garbage although the best practice is to only burn paper. Combustible items will be reduced to ash. A fire pan user can leave no trace of their previous fire because the ashes can be collected and buried.
because it allows the fire to be picked up and moved should the need arise.
Campfire
A campfire is a fire lit at a campsite, to serve the following functions: light, warmth, a beacon, a bug and/or apex predator deterrent, to cook, and for a psychological sense of security. In established campgrounds they are usually in a fire ring for safety. Campfires are a popular feature of...
which is often used as method for building a Leave No Trace
Leave No Trace
Leave No Trace is both a set of principles, and an organization that promotes those principles. The principles are designed to assist outdoor enthusiasts with their decisions about how to reduce their impacts when they hike, camp, picnic, snowshoe, run, bike, hunt, paddle, ride horses, fish, ski or...
fire.
Background
Fire pans were initially used by river guides to minimize the impact of their fires but they are becoming increasingly popular with backpackersBackpacking (wilderness)
Backpacking combines the activities of hiking and camping for an overnight stay in backcountry wilderness...
, campers
Camping
Camping is an outdoor recreational activity. The participants leave urban areas, their home region, or civilization and enjoy nature while spending one or several nights outdoors, usually at a campsite. Camping may involve the use of a tent, caravan, motorhome, cabin, a primitive structure, or no...
and other outdoor users. The pan is usually a metal tray with rigid sides at least three inches high such as a metal oil drain pan or a backyard barbecue grill.
Purpose
The use of a fire pan reduces the impact to the ground, vegetationVegetation
Vegetation is a general term for the plant life of a region; it refers to the ground cover provided by plants. It is a general term, without specific reference to particular taxa, life forms, structure, spatial extent, or any other specific botanical or geographic characteristics. It is broader...
and rocks, and its compact size results in the burning of less wood. Fire pans also allow users to easily burn their accumulated garbage although the best practice is to only burn paper. Combustible items will be reduced to ash. A fire pan user can leave no trace of their previous fire because the ashes can be collected and buried.
Usage
When using a fire pan care should be taken so the heat does not scorch vegetation or sterilize the ground, therefore it is necessary to elevate the pan with rocks or with several inches of mineral soil. Used in winter a fire pan can be placed atop limbs or logs to keep the pan from sinking into the snow. A fire pan can be more convenient than a traditional campfireCampfire
A campfire is a fire lit at a campsite, to serve the following functions: light, warmth, a beacon, a bug and/or apex predator deterrent, to cook, and for a psychological sense of security. In established campgrounds they are usually in a fire ring for safety. Campfires are a popular feature of...
because it allows the fire to be picked up and moved should the need arise.