Firepit poll results

Our recent poll about the use of firepits on campsites caused a heated debate – here we bring you the results.

All fired up!

In our burning poll question last month, we asked caravanners, motorhome owners and campervanners if they take a firepit on their holidays.

And after hundreds of votes, it was not a glowing result for firepits with 71 percent of leisure vehicle owners giving them the thumbs down.

A quarter of ‘vanners did take a firepit on their leisure vehicle holidays – 11 percent of motorhomes, and seven percent of caravanners and campervanners.

Just four percent of voters said they were considering buying a firepit – they can check out our recent firepit gear guide here.

But it was reading your comments about the use of firepits on campsites that got some people really fired up!

Your firepit poll comments

Those with a burning desire for a firepit were counteracted by complaints about smoke, noise, and being bad for the environment.

But Shane said he used a gas firepit with no smoke and good heat output and Tony Harris said he used a small Cadac as a firepit: “Simple, clean, and safe”.

Steven Quantrill was in favour of firepits and told us he had a Biolite Basecamp: “Brilliant, easy to use, store, and uses any wood you find where you have stopped.”

Ben said a firepit was ‘one of the staples of camping.’

“If your neighbours are close enough to have an opinion, you’re on a too-crowded campsite,” he commented. “Sustainably sourced local firewood is much more net zero than gas that’s travelled from the north sea or electric created by coal-fired power stations.”

Robin Baldwin told us he had a Bushpig which can be used as a BBQ and a fire pit.

“It is always used sensibly with a tray full of water under it to prevent any scorching of the grass and, of course, within the rules of the campsite and local area.”

Michael Houston said he had a cast iron barbecue which could also be used as a small firepit, but that he rarely used it – depending on the site rules.

Paul Selby said fire pits were great for cool evenings when camping.

Some voters thought firepits were a good thing to have but should be confined to a dedicated area of a campsite.

Jim Gillies said firepits shouldn’t be allowed near to other caravans due to the smoke and fumes wafting across other folks’ pitches or inside their caravans: “No problem with a separate paved area for them well away from caravans and extinguishers nearby,” he commented

Rick Davies said having a firepit seemed to be the “thing” to do these days.

“We hired one to try but only used it once, our clothes smelt of smoke for days,” said Rick. “Also, we seemed to get the benefit of other people’s smoke too who lit them indiscriminately with no thought of where the smoke was going to go. I think fire pits should be confined to one area of the campsite if practicable.”

Stephen also liked to hire a firepit from sites that provided them. “We find those sites take a very responsible attitude, not hiring if the ground is tinder dry, and having sensible rules about where they are placed. Nothing better than sitting by a fire, nursing a beer, wine, rum or even hot chocolate and watching the sun go down.”

Ron Ridge was not a fan of firepits: “The people that buy the easy light charcoal and firepits with damp wood are a nuisance, I caravan to enjoy the outdoors not their pollution and drunken singing. Many festivals now ban fires due to nuisance and danger.”

David Glendinning agreed: “No place for fire pits on campsites,” he commented. “Dangerous, anti-social, seem to attract drunken morons.”

Steve Woodhams said he didn’t want open fires anywhere near him: “Embers burn holes in plastic awnings ruining them,” he said.

And CAW said: “Firepits are unnecessary, smelly, bad for the environment and if you have a breathing disorder, can actually force you to move away from them to be able to breathe.”

Peter Langely commented: “Fire pits and flammable things like tents and caravans and human lives are too great a risk apart from the fact that not everyone behaves sensibly in the use of these things and when the smoke is drifting into my caravan it creates tension with the people causing it.”

Keith Roberts said they tended to avoid sites that allowed firepits: “Great idea in principle,” said Keith. “The problem is when people don’t know that green wood doesn’t burn. It’s not the right environment on a site where there are people close together with fabric structures.”