Is a campfire while ice fishing safe? Now that’s a burning question? Sorry, I had to say it. All joking aside, it’s a serious question and understanding its many sides can help avoid a potential tragedy.
Ice fishing requires hours on the hard water in what are often hostile, freezing conditions. So, trying to keep warm or even cooking while ice fishing is a natural part of the sport. The critical question here is how to do it safely.
Read on for some tips on what to do or not to do for a safe and fun outing on the ice.
Fire on ice, has to be the ultimate oxymoron, but knowing how to have a fire legally and safely when ice fishing can keep you free of entanglements with the Department of Natural Resources, or with environmental laws as well as be the difference between life and death for ice anglers
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Is it Legal to Have a Fire on the Ice?
The legality of fires on ice varies from province to province and state to state. So, to be absolutely certain, check with your local Department of Natural Resources.
Littering and Environmental Laws Regulating Fires on Ice.
Many of the regulations used to control or prosecute the use of fires on ice are really laws about littering or environmental protection. Michigan regulation 324.8902 is one such law.
The regulations focus is on not having consent and knowingly leaving behind any litter, debris, trash, etc. on property not specified for that purpose.
Littering on the ice is a big issue. Just think about being the guy who busts up a new set of blades by hitting a partly burned piece of oak or an old propane tank while drilling a hole in the ice. I’m guessing you’re going to be pretty ticked off.
Avoid possible citations by leaving the area ready for the next anglers. Remove all trash and debris, including ash or partly burned wood, before going home.
If you’re unsure what is clean enough, adopt the practice of campfire girls and boy scouts, and leave your fishing site cleaner than you found.
Where are Fires on Ice legal?
North America is a big place with many states and provinces suitable for ice fishing. The table below is a small sampling of several states’ and provinces’ regulations regarding fires on the ice. It’s best to check your local regulations before striking a match on the hard water.
| State/Province | Regulation or Law |
| Maine | Reg. 2.5, C & D Open Fires. C. When the terrain is snow-covered… fires on the ice must be below the high watermark. D. No fire shall be left unattended. |
| Wisconsin | Fires on the ice are not allowed, but you can use a grill. Be sure to remove all ash and waste, |
| Minnesota | General state regulations are unclear, so it’s best to check local regulations. However, in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness near Duluth MN. Campfires on the ice are allowed in a fire pan. Only dead wood from the surrounding shoreline may be used. Ash should be distributed in the surrounding forest, and away from the shore. |
| Ontario, Canada | No clear laws or regulations were available. Check local regulations before striking a match. |
| Alberta, Canada | No clear laws or regulations were available. Check local regulations before striking a match. |
| Manitoba, Canada | No clear laws or regulations were available. However, an email reply to a question from the Manitoba Water Steward (Discussion #6) said Ok to fires for roasting hot dogs. |
Is it safe to have a Fire on a Frozen Lake?
Let’s get this out of the way upfront. It’s probably better to ask two questions. First, is it wise to have a fire on the ice? Second, why have a fire on ice when there are easier ways to keep warm or cook on the ice? Still, fires on frozen lakes are more common than you may think.
In her post, Fire on the Ice, author Patti See shares about a fishing festival in Lake Hallie, Wisconsin. Hundreds of people gather on the lake with ice houses and vehicles for the fishing contest. The day’s festivities come to a peak when many festival goers gather at night for a bon-fire on the ice.
It’s worth noting that this festival takes place on ice that was both thick and strong enough to hold many ice houses, cars, trucks, and hundreds of people. It’s on ice like this that you can have worry free fires.
Let’s look at a few common-sense reasons fires on Ice may or may not be safe, along with alternatives to fire directly on the ice.
When are Fires on Ice a Bad Idea?
The immediate knee-jerk response to when are fires a bad idea on ice? I’m inclined to agree, but certain times are riskier than others. Building a fire on early season ice is a risky business. This is a bit of a contradiction because early clear ice can be stronger.
Early, clear ice hasn’t gone through repeated freeze-thaw cycles that can cause fractures in the ice. It’s also more likely to be free of impurities that can cause weaknesses in the ice. The increased risk factor comes from insistent ice thickness common early in the season.
Variable ice thicknesses are a much higher risk on ice on top of flowing water. In many areas, ice integrity is suspected by early spring, so is the idea of fire directly on the ice.
When is it Safe to Have a Fire on Ice?
The timing of ice safety varies by climate and location. Ice in British Columbia or Alberta, Canada will be safe before the ice in Ohio or Pennsylvania. These same locations will have safe ice long after Indiana doesn’t.
Ice thickness is the primary factor deciding when a fire is safe on the ice. A search of different states’ regulations on safe ice thickness averages out to about 8-inches being safe for a two and a half-ton truck and 9-inches for a three and half-ton truck.
If you can drive a three and half-ton truck on the ice, it’s thick enough for a fire. However, If you’re over cautious like me, I’d suggest waiting for at least twelve inches of ice before lighting a fire.
Remember, most regulations governing fires on ice relate to environmental issues, so be sure to clean up all ash, burned wood, trash and to cover over the burn scar with snow.
Alternatives to fires directly on the ice.
Who doesn’t love sitting around a campfire with family or friends sharing stories, cooking, or making smores? You can have that same experience with a little ingenuity.
Covered fire pits are an easy and ready-made alternative. They limit the cinders that drift off the fire and you can cook over them or toast marshmallows. When you’re ready to go, put it on a sled and haul all the ash and debris to an approved dumping site, off the water.
Are you a do-it-yourselfer? Find a 50-gallon steel drum, cut it down to between ⅓ to ½ size weld on legs, and bolt to some wooden skis made from 4x4s. Make a cover from expanded metal , attach a pull rope and you’re ready to go.
Any old grill you have around the house can hold your fire. You don’t have to use wood. Charcoal burns long and hot.
Propane Alternatives.
If you’re not into the live-fire options on the ice, Propane camp stoves and heathers are an excellent option. A wide variety of camp stoves and griddles to go on top are available. If you’re looking for a way to warm up, try a portable propane heater made for camping.
What happens if you light a fire on ice?
To anglers who didn’t grow up in regions where ice fishing is a way of life, fire on a frozen lake can seem unlikely or dangerous. It’s not only possible, but it’s relatively safe with a few precautions.
There are several reasons for fire on ice working. First, when you have a fire on land, the hottest part of the fire isn’t the flames themselves, it’s the glowing coals collecting at the bottom of the fire. Because ice melts into water, extinguishing many of these coals, the fire simply doesn’t burn as hot and cannot melt through the ice.
Next, as a fire burns, more heat goes up than into the ice. This means that between the up-draft of expelled heat, and the extinguishing effect of melting ice, a simple camp fire can’t burn hot enough to melt through ice thick enough to hold a truck.
Thickness is the key! So, if you’re on ice that’s barely thick enough to walk on or slightly thicker, but over running water, building a fire on the ice is a death wish.
Wrapping it Up
On the surface, fire on ice is a contradiction of terms, but when done properly, burning on the ice can be safe, and make for good times and good food.
To avoid being tripped up by environmentally focused laws, removing ash, debris and trash from your site and covering the snow are strongly suggested practices, as is checking laws in the local municipalities you fish in.
Ice should be no less than 9-inches thick before considering a fire directly on its surface. With this as minimum safe thickness, a simple campfire can’t burn hot enough to melt through the ice.
If you’re not sold on the idea of fire on the ice, consider the alternatives of raised covered fire pits or homemade burn barrels. There are also good propane camp stoves and heaters readily available.
Approach burning on the ice with all your ducks in a row, and you’re ready to strike a match and make some memories.