With the dog days of summer firmly upon us, many people are looking forward sitting around the campfire. Though fireside activities are usually reserved for the cooler autumn months, it doesn’t stop the true enthusiasts from planning ahead. Beyond roasting hot dogs and marshmallows, a lot of people enjoy using sparklers when they’re camping as a timeless tradition. Since you have a perfectly good source of flame at hand, it’s only natural to consider lighting them in this fashion. However, can you light sparklers with a campfire reliably, and is it even safe? Here is everything you need to know so you can be prepared for your wilderness outing or backyard gathering.
How Well Does Lighting Sparklers with a Campfire Work?
The biggest factor you need to consider when deciding how to get sparklers lit is the temperature of the flame. Obviously, it seems like a no-brainer to use the bright beautiful flames in your fire pit instead of fiddling with a lighter. However, the real problem here lies in the color of the flames themselves.
Most fires that use wood as a fuel source have large, red and orange, colored flames. If you know anything about the color of flames in relation to temperature, they are actually not very hot. On average, the flames of a campfire only reach about 1500 degrees Fahrenheit. While that’s certainly enough to give you a painful burn, it isn’t ideal for lighting pyrotechnic compounds. However, some people are dead-set on lighting them using their fire. If so, your best bet is to try for an area close to the embers where you can see hints of green or blue flames. Otherwise, this method doesn’t work very well at all.
Is it Easier to Do with Certain Types of Sparklers?
If you still are certain you want to try lighting sparkler with a campfire, choosing the right type can be helpful. In reality, all the various size option require the same amount of heat to ignite quickly. However, the length can play other roles in the process. Since you need to get really deep down into the fire pit near the embers, I typically suggest 36 inch sparklers so you can stay at a safe distance. The longer handle will allow you to get them further in without scorching your hand. If you can’t find that long of an option, you can usually make the shorter 20 inch variety work if necessary. However, you’ll need to be much more careful; and it usually works better with smaller campfires.
Is it Safe to Light Sparklers with a Campfire?
If you’re able to keep your hands away from the heat, it really isn’t any more dangerous than other available options. Honestly, I wouldn’t go out on a limb and say it’s completely safe. However, the real crux of the situation is avoiding being burnt. Remember, you can seriously injure yourself around a campfire if you’re not careful, so safety simply must be your main priority! Now, there are obvious hurdles to contend with since you will be extremely close to very large flames. Additionally, the longer time it will take to ignite the tips exposes you to more risk. With that said, as long as you can stay at a safe distance with longer sparklers, you can safely light them using a campfire.
Are There Better Alternatives for Lighting Them Quickly?
If you are a bit more open-minded, I suggest choosing a more reliable way to get the job done. By and large, the most efficient way to do it is to use a sparkler torch lighter that creates a sky blue flame to ignite them instantly. They are affordable and easy to use, and you’ll find all sorts of ways to use them after your camping trip. However, many people don’t have a torch on hand. So, a high quality lighter will do the job better than a fire fueled by wood in a pinch. Though you can theoretically light sparklers with a campfire, you are certainly making the job a lot harder on yourself than you need to.
At the end of the day, campfires are simply not an efficient way to light sparklers. Sure, it may seem extremely convenient at first. But, in practice there are just too many hang-ups for it to be a wise choice. I urge you to consider an alternative plan if you have other resources on hand. However, as long as you can do it in a safe way, it can work if you don’t have any other options available to you. Good luck and enjoy your camping season!
