Tarps and sparks!!

[Bobc]

Hi

I was just pondering over a tarp as a christmas present to myself and the thought of how other forum members cope with the sparks off open fires potentially burning holes in the tarps.
Obviously I'm not daft enough to build a fire directly under a tarp but when the sparks from a fire go up then seems to me they gotta come down and once having a fancy goretex coat burnt by a spark at a bonfire it got me thinking.
I had my mind on a dd tarp of some sort but dont want it to end up a sieve after the first fire
thanks for your thoughts
Bob

 

[John Fenna]

I OFTEN build a fire under a tarp or parachute shelter - most of my camps have the fire under shelter.
As long as you have the tarp set reasonably high then few sparks will reach it and I still use a huge tarp that is over 15 years old as a communal shelter over the fire - OK it has one or two tiny holes but none I can be bothered fixing as they are all tiny
I try and set the tarp at least 6' above the fire and do not have mad bonfires - just sensibly sized cooking/heating fires and have more problems with smoke holding than sparks and damage.
If you are really worried about spark damage get a canvas tarp - but DD tarps should be fine as long as your fires are not too big or full of spitting wood.

 

[Philster]

I have had no issues either - I used to worry a lot about this when i first got my DD but have never had it holed. As long as you have a few feet between it and the fire you'll be fine.
Hope this helps
Phil

 

[ged]

... As long as you have a few feet between it and the fire you'll be fine.

Well, it will be fine if you don't burn larch.

Canvas is a lot more resistant to sparks than man-made fibres.

 

[Dark Horse Dave]

Well, it will be fine if you don't burn larch.

Canvas is a lot more resistant to sparks than man-made fibres.

Definitely true, though like others I've never had a problem - and I tend to use a very lightweight BPL tarp. Again I'm talking small, single person fires here (often a very slow star type arrangement)

 

[Klenchblaize]

I'd be far more concerned about making one too close to a thermal wall.

Holes in a tarp are to be displayed in the manner of campaign medals!

 

[Bobc]

Thanks very much for your input guys

Maybe I'm over thinking the risk as long as im sensible with my fires

ATB
Bob