A fire with a large flame is called a campfire.
The notion of campfire has two major uses recognized in the dictionary of the Royal Spanish Academy ( RAE ). The first meaning refers to the fire that produces a large flame .
To understand this meaning, therefore, we must first focus on the definitions of fire and flame . A phenomenon that is characterized by emitting light and heat is known as fire . The flame , for its part, is a gaseous mass that is in combustion and that arises from the burning elements.
What is a campfire
Returning to the idea of a campfire, it is a fire that has a noticeable flame. It is common for the notion to be used equivalently to others such as bonfire , fire or hearth .
To make a campfire, you need to produce the chemical reaction known as combustion . This requires the intervention of an oxidizable material and oxygen. When combustion is achieved, which is usually made visible by the flame, energy is released.
The importance of fuel
Matter that can burn easily and that, when violently oxidized, gives off heat is called fuel . A campfire requires some type of fuel to start and sustain.
Wood and charcoal are two solid fuels that are usually used to make campfires. These fuels are combined with an oxidizer so that combustion occurs: the usual thing is that said oxidizer is the oxygen that is in the environment.
An out-of-control or poorly extinguished campfire can cause a fire.
Uses of campfires
Since humans began to master fire, they have taken advantage of campfires in multiple ways. In prehistoric times, campfires were essential for warmth and to keep animals away.
Over time, bonfires also gained importance in food. Thanks to fire, cooking food became possible, thereby reducing poisoning caused by microorganisms in food.
It is interesting to mention that bonfires , which are open-air bonfires with intense flames, were used throughout history to carry out executions ( Joan of Arc , for example, was killed in this way). Nowadays, bonfires are made in certain popular celebrations.
A potential danger
Campfires are potentially dangerous. Depending on where they ignite and how they are managed, they can start fires that are very difficult to control and capable of causing enormous damage.
Suppose a person lights a bonfire in the middle of a forest to keep warm during the night. At dawn, he leaves without putting out the fire. The flames, due to the action of the wind, end up reaching the local trees and thus spread, destroying everything in their path. That is why bonfires should not be lit in unauthorized places.
The campfire, a stove
The RAE recognizes another meaning of bonfire. This is how a stove is mentioned that allows obstacles to be overcome when leveling land.
A stove, meanwhile, is a hole that is made to introduce gunpowder into it and thus cause a blast. In the case of the campfire, it is loaded with a reduced amount of gunpowder.