Cold, rain or wind can make outdoor cooking uncomfortable. But a portable fuel-burning stove, gas heater, lantern or barbecue does not become safe inside a tent just because the entrance is open.
The short answer: do not use a fuel-burning appliance for cooking or heat inside a tent, camper or another enclosed or partly enclosed space. Do not bring a smouldering barbecue inside after cooking. Choose a permitted outdoor spot and follow the appliance instructions and campsite rules.
Why a tent is unsafe for a fuel-burning appliance
Burning gas, petrol, kerosene, wood or charcoal can produce carbon monoxide (CO). It has no colour or smell. Your senses cannot reliably tell you when its concentration inside a tent is rising.
A portable stove or heater can emit CO, and charcoal in a barbecue can keep smouldering after visible flames are gone. Do not move a used or still-hot barbecue indoors to store it or warm the tent.
The problem is not solved by leaving the door partly open. An open entrance, flap or window does not reliably protect against CO buildup. A tent is therefore not a place for a fuel-burning stove, lantern, barbecue or portable heater, even in cold weather and even if you plan to watch it.
There is a separate fire risk
Tent fabric, sleeping pads, sleeping bags, clothing and dry grass can ignite from a flame, spark, hot surface or tipped pan. In the confined space of a tent, there may be little time or room to react and get out.
A gas appliance can be knocked over, its flame can go out unnoticed, or its connection to the cylinder can be damaged. That creates additional risks of gas leaks and fire. Use each appliance only as intended and according to its manufacturer’s instructions.
How to choose an outdoor cooking spot
First check the campsite rules and local restrictions on fires and barbecues. They can vary by place and conditions. If open-flame cooking is prohibited or there is no designated suitable area, do not light an appliance there.
When use is permitted:
- place the appliance on a stable surface suitable under the manufacturer’s instructions;
- keep flames and hot parts away from tent walls, entrances and vents, as well as dry grass and other flammable materials;
- do not cook inside a tent or enclosed vestibule;
- never leave a working stove, barbecue or open fire unattended;
- follow the instructions for turning off, cooling and storing that particular appliance.
There is no single universal clearance distance from every tent. Use the distances and conditions specified by the manufacturer and campsite, and position the appliance so combustion fumes are not directed toward the sleeping area. If there is no suitable permitted place, the safer choice is not to light it.
If someone feels unwell
Headache, dizziness, weakness, nausea, vomiting or confusion after a fuel-burning appliance has been used in an enclosed space may be signs of CO poisoning. The symptoms are not unique to CO, so do not wait for a smell or visible smoke.
Move everyone and pets outdoors, get away from the tent and call 112 from a safe place. Do not go back inside to collect equipment. If there is a fire, alert others, move to safety and call 112.
Before going to sleep
Before settling in for the night, make sure no fuel-burning stove, heater, lantern or barbecue is operating in the tent or camper. Do not use cooking equipment as a heater, and do not bring smouldering charcoal into the sleeping area. If you are unsure where cooking is permitted, ask the campsite manager.
The takeaway
A tent protects you from weather, but it is not a safe enclosure for a fuel-burning appliance. CO has no reliable warning signal for your senses, and a partly open entrance does not make indoor use safe. Cook only at a permitted outdoor location, follow the appliance instructions, and keep stoves, heaters and barbecues outside the sleeping space.
