Why doesn't FW allow campfires at the sites?

[MalkaR]

I find that there's always someone on this amazing board who has an answer to my questions so I thought I'd go ahead and ask! Why does FW only allow campfires within those fully contained firepits? Has there been an issue in the past with fire dangers that don't exist at other campgrounds? I've never been to a campground that didn't allow campfires at the sites.

 

[snowmedic]

There is always that one time, that one person who’s fire has to be bigger than everyone else. That and everything from tents to million dollar rv’s ( which I have seen at the Fort), getting destroyed because of someone’s carelessness, Disney doesn’t want that type of liability. Better safe than sorry.

 

[bama_ed]

I am in a Florida state park tonight with no fire rings or campfires allowed. Like the Fort, however, they do allow free standing campfire rings brought in by the camper when there is no burn ban. But no wood fires in the charcoal grills here either, MalkaR.

My favorite state park in Alabama, Gulf, had an idiot do this (they have fire rings in the ground) in 2011:

http://blog.al.com/live/2011/07/gulf_state_park_fire_contained.html

He burned over 1,000 acres. Embers floated out of his fire and started the thing. That's why I support the Fort's policy personally to have a full solid top and screens on the vertical services.

Bama Ed

 

[MalkaR]

I am in a Florida state park tonight with no fire rings or campfires allowed. Like the Fort, however, they do allow free standing campfire rings brought in by the camper when there is no burn ban. But no wood fires in the charcoal grills here either, MalkaR.

My favorite state park in Alabama, Gulf, had an idiot do this (they have fire rings in the ground) in 2011:

http://blog.al.com/live/2011/07/gulf_state_park_fire_contained.html

He burned over 1,000 acres. Embers floated out of his fire and started the thing. That's why I support the Fort's policy personally to have a full solid top and screens on the vertical services.

Bama Ed

Wow! Maybe the difference is that I camp in NJ, where we're less likely to have forest fires, so the campgrounds here are less wary? I know that they do have signs up saying they have the right to ban campfires if it's really dry, but I've never seen it happen.

 

[tiggerdad]

It's just a risk that Disney doesn't want associated with them. It can happen anywhere, true enough.

I remember being in Orange Beach when the fire at GSP was going on, it was terrible. That beautiful pine forest was completely wiped out and was a wasteland for a couple of years and is only now just starting to regrow.

I agree with Disney's policy since at least it doesn't completely outlaw campfires unless it's exceptionally dry. Swamp land gives rise to heavy undergrowth which typically burns faster and is difficult to contain due to fire control bulldozers not being able to navigate in the wet terrain.

An out of control fire like that would seriously hurt Disney's revenue, and they ain't gonna chance that.

 

[PaHunter]

Alcohol, fire, bad behavior, bad decisions....imagine if the guy who thought it was a good idea to climb the Mexico pavilion decided to have a fire. The whole Fort may burn down, hundreds of RV's destroyed, possibly loss of life.
Sadly people now think I can do whatever I want without thinking about what may happen to others. Worked in a campground, have seen many a fire, too large, or even better yet unattended with 3 foot flame height. Spent 13 years as a volunteer firefighter, have seen barns burnt to the ground and untold acres because of burning garbage on a windy(35 mph) day.

 

[Clifton Tesh]

As every one has mentioned, it controls the embers so they don't fly away and light something on fire... But it also controls it so that they don't fly away and hurt someone or something.

Hot embers in your eyeballs hurts, imagine another camper catching hot embers in their eyes or one of the critters running around getting embers on them.

It's overall protection.

 

[bigdisneydaddy]

The smoke from all those fires would be horrendous. I really wish Disney was more vigilant about fires in the grills, I know they do some enforcement but every trip in the last few years has had me calling the front desk because someone has piled downed wood in a grill and now has a 5 ft flame. We lucked out last March, one of our neighbors caught the pine straw in the 1700 inner area on fire by carelessly dumping coals from their smoker on the ground. We came home to a large column of smoke and 4 or 5 guys scrambling to put a 20' diameter fire out. Luckily the guy next door to them saw it started the efforts to put it out. I called the front desk as soon as I could but by then they fortunately had it out. They sent a "ranger" out who spent all of 15 seconds surveying the situation and then left. They should have called Reedy creek and had them send an engine or inspector out for a report (if it isnt documented then it didnt happen).

 

[team bradfield]

BDD, good point on the smoke, our local campground can be overwhelming in the fall with all the camp fires

 

[bigdisneydaddy]

Not to mention that the millionaires next door are probably not fans of campfires.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

Why does FW only allow campfires within those fully contained firepits?

1) Fire.
2) Fire.
3) Fire.
4) Floating and airborne embers can ignite the pine trees at The Fort.
5) Campers have a tendency to complain when their RV or tent catches fire.
6) Sometimes campers can be REALLY PICKY.