Fires on ice?

[lil_coondog]

Are fires allowed on the ice? Looking to have a night time outing with a wood fire. Just wondering if it breaks any laws?

[NNYIceangler]

I've always done it.  It's usually a great time.  Don't believe there is any law against it.

[big_guy_13021]

Wont break the law but mite break the ice...on a serious note i believe u can as ling as its in like a grill or something...just make sure u take your debrees home with you...wich im sure you would do...

[fullThrottle]

Yeah bring home your debrees home with you ....and clean up the ashes !

[mcperch]

Get a hold of me I'm game , fishing,coffee, blackberry brandy , venison, YUP I'M IN ,!

[trapper2000]

unless there is local restrictions i think your good to go ....and i think the ashes are biodegradable.....

[iloveacrappiedinner]

unless there is local restrictions i think your good to go ....and i think the ashes are biodegradable.....

Trapper hit it on the head. It's all dependent on local ordinances. If they have laws against "open fires" you can't do it. But if a cop wanders out onto the ice to ticket you for an open fire, he was gonna ticket you for something anyway because that's just absurd. The odd thing about ashes is that technically they are a regulated solid waste under the NYSDEC laws. Only ashes that are from "unadulterated wood combustion" can be dispersed on that land, and even then it's technically classified as a soil amendment. The concern isn't with wood ash, which doesn't decompose (nothing left to decompose after combustion) but blends into the soil. The concern is with what else was burned. Food wrappers, paint residue, tin cans. all these things can contain heavy metals which then leach into the soil or water.

So if you're having a fire on the ice: 1 - check local laws against open fire. 2 - Don't move firewood (read up on the DEC regs there, I recommend burning pallets as they are untreated wood, and kiln dried so there is no risk for invasive species). 3 - Don't burn your garbage.

[Kobey]

I don't see a problem with ashes.  Just make sure you don't leave any big sticks or logs laying there that could become a hazard when they get covered with new snow.

[Rugburn]

Pallets have nails, no good.

[trapper2000]

jigs  have  lead .... stop it  ..........buddy  just have  your  fire and  enjoy yourself  .... i'm sure  some  people would  complain about my camp fire   ....feww ashes  and  a  nail isn't  going to  hurt nothing

[Rugburn]

I would do the same Trapper, just do it.

[mraw]

I bring a small grill that we use for the fire. Ashes are contained and easy to take back with you.

[Jim S NY]

I would think that pallets would be a bad idea as they have tons of nails in them. That would suck for tire and muck boots

[mcperch]

No holes in boots or tires on the ice,
    I think we need to do it especially Black Berry Brandy

[choo choo]

Fires directly on the ice will melt inches of the ice and leave a large diameter weakened ice area , that can become a hazard especially early or late ice season.
Legal or not, I don't like to see fires directly on the ice for that reason.

[Tightliness]

From experience a fire won’t melt more then 2-3 inches of ice usually.

[jschmitt]

3 ft diameter fire for 3 hrs the other day on my pond melted  1/4 inch of ice. Heat rises boys and girls.

[badbrad2186]

55 gallon drum on a buddies pond growing up. We had fires all the time barrel would wind maybe 3 inches after 5-6 hours  of a fire

[fullThrottle]

A little gas never hurt anyone 

[beershanty]

an old aluminum rim is the perfect firepit. it cools down quick and isnt all that heavy to carry.

[MikeSJ]

3 ft diameter fire for 3 hrs the other day on my pond melted  1/4 inch of ice. Heat rises boys and girls.

I've had lots of fires on the ice in the past.  No problems.  That being said I would check local regs on  open fires

[prchslyr]

My kids always like having fires when we fish.
Dad Pro-tip: A fire on the lake can occupy a kid for hours. Leaving me my favorite rod and flasher.
Especially when you don't allow them to use a lighter. 

[choo choo]

From experience a fire won’t melt more then 2-3 inches of ice usually.

I've burnt fires all day and melted over 6 inches of ice and weakened a good sized area ,.....even melting 2 to 3 inches of ice like you said, when you only are standing on 4 or 5 inches leaves you 2 or 3, certainly a weak spot on a lake that has 4 or 5 inches. Messy too.That is the reason I said especially early or late ice season.

3 ft diameter fire for 3 hrs the other day on my pond melted  1/4 inch of ice. Heat rises boys and girls.

Well I guess it depends on the size of the fire and how hot it is burning(type of wood and size of chunks) and how long it is burning.
Heat rises I agree,,,, but heat weakens and melts ice too.....even from the top down

Small fires for a few hours won't do much damage, but a large fire all day will melt and weaken the ice.

[prchslyr]

My kids and I had a fire burning on 4" of ice a couple weeks back. They had it ripping all day long.
I did specifically make my kids have it right next to shore over less than 2 fow over a known sandbar. Just to be cautious.
We cleared our mess before we left and spudded through the ice in the middle of where the fire was. The boys were curious. I got the spud out to show them that we lost less than an inch of ice. We had bets going about how much ice we lost. I really wish I thought to bet a couple shoveling jobs. 

[choo choo]

My kids and I had a fire burning on 4" of ice a couple weeks back. They had it ripping all day long.
I did specifically make my kids have it right next to shore over less than 2 fow over a known sandbar. Just to be cautious.
We cleared our mess before we left and spudded through the ice in the middle of where the fire was. The boys were curious. I got the spud out to show them that we lost less than an inch of ice. We had bets going about how much ice we lost. I really wish I thought to bet a couple shoveling jobs. 

  a weak spot , but not to bad.
When I was younger , we always had a fire. It was usually the first thing we did while setting up. We used to have the fire close to shore which made for a shorter walk with the wood which we gathered from the woods.I could see where it would be a fun thing for kids to do during a ice fishing day....I did it all the time ! I remember the fires would burn so hot it would be melting the ice, sizzling, and putt ing the fire out, so we would make the fire bigger and bigger as it melted down in. Fun Times....I do miss those days .....and fires !

[trapper2000]

the reason you  cant't  melt  a  hole threw  is  because  the  ice  around  the area  and  the  water below  is  so  cold  it  keeps the  ice  frozen .... it's the  same  with a  water  bootle  filled with water   you  can boil water in a  plastic  bottle and  not melt the bottle

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vLa9mxrrrsc

ya might leave some ashes  but your not going to damage the ice

[Stickhick86]

I use to make fires on the ice but that was before I got my flip over and a buddy heater

[havejigwilltravel]

too busy fishing to make a fire. if you ain't catching keep moving.

[beershanty]

too busy fishing to make a fire. if you ain't catching keep moving.

unless all ur looking to catch is a good buzz, then follow that orange glow!!

[mcarey97]

I’d love to be too busy to build a fire.     Tell me where you are fishing.  In down time always get the fire ripping
-matt