Legendary Campfire Mishaps—and What We Learned
| Category: | Campfire Safety |
|---|---|
| Notes: | Tall tales of campfire chaos with lessons baked in. A humorous and instructive roundup of what not to do around the fire. |
Every seasoned Scout has a campfire story—or five—about a moment where things got a little too exciting. Maybe it was a flying marshmallow. Maybe a log rolled the wrong way. Maybe the SPL learned that hairspray and fire don't mix. These stories make us laugh later—but they also remind us why we take fire safety seriously.
The Flaming Log Launch
One Scout—we'll call him "Blaze"—decided to shift a burning log with his foot. Unfortunately, the log had other ideas, launching itself onto the grass outside the fire ring. A fast-thinking buddy doused it with a water bottle. Lesson learned? Use a stick, not a shoe.
The Glowstick Incident
A curious Tenderfoot dropped a cracked glowstick into the fire "to see what would happen." What happened was an odd smell, a mini chemical flare, and a very stern Scoutmaster chat. Never burn plastic—or science experiments.
The Marshmallow Meteor
One enthusiastic roast went from golden brown to flaming missile. The Scout spun to blow it out—and launched it onto his neighbor's pant leg. No burns, but plenty of yelling. Since then, it's become troop tradition to "announce your marshmallow status" before rotation.
The Tent That Got Toasty
A fire built a little too close to a tent flap ended in melted nylon and a chilly night. It's now troop policy: no tents within 15 feet of the fire ring—no exceptions.
What We Learned
- Fires are fun—but not foolproof. Stay alert.
- Laugh at mistakes—but learn from them.
- Good safety stories last longer than bad scars.
- Embarrassing moments make great skits—once everyone's safe.
Remember: legends are born around the fire... but so are lessons. Make sure your story is one you can laugh about—after you've cleaned up and cooled it out.