Camping Stove Safety Guide — Essential Rules for Outdoor Cooking

Safe Cooking Keeps Camping Enjoyable

Camping stove accidents are rare but almost always preventable. Every year, a handful of incidents involving burns, carbon monoxide poisoning or tent fires make the news — and in virtually every case, basic safety rules were ignored. Before you head out for summer 2026, take five minutes to read and remember these guidelines. They apply equally to stoves from Campingaz, Coleman, Jetboil, Trangia, Go System and every other brand.

Rule 1: Never Cook Inside a Tent

This is the single most important safety rule and the one most often broken. Cooking inside a tent or sealed awning creates two lethal risks: carbon monoxide poisoning (an odourless gas produced by burning any fuel) and fire (tent fabrics ignite rapidly and melt onto skin). There are no exceptions. Not even in rain. Not even with the door open. Cook outside, under a tarp if necessary, with clear air circulation around the stove.

Rule 2: Stable Surface, Level Ground

A camping stove with a full pan of boiling water toppling onto someone is a severe burn risk. Always place your stove on a solid, level surface — a camping table, a flat rock or level ground. Never balance it on uneven grass, a fold-out chair or inside a soft bag. Check stability before lighting by pressing gently on the pan supports.

Rule 3: Keep Flammables Away

Maintain at least one metre of clearance between your stove and any flammable material — tent fabric, guy ropes, dry grass, paper, gas canister packaging. Wind can redirect flames unexpectedly. Position gas canisters away from the burner's radiant heat, especially on stoves where the canister sits beside the burner head.

Rule 4: Check Connections Before Lighting

• Ensure gas canisters are fully seated and locked into the stove's connector
• For screw-thread (EN417) canisters, hand-tighten firmly but don't force
• For piercing (CP250) cartridges, make sure you hear the puncture click
• Smell for gas before lighting — if you detect gas without the valve open, disconnect and inspect the seal

Rule 5: Never Leave a Lit Stove Unattended

Wind can blow out the flame while gas continues flowing, creating a dangerous buildup. Children and pets are attracted to the flame and hot surfaces. Stay within arm's reach of your stove whenever it is lit.

Rule 6: Let It Cool Before Packing

After cooking, allow the stove and all metalwork to cool completely before handling, packing away or disconnecting the gas canister. This takes 10–15 minutes for most stoves. Burns from handling a recently-used stove are among the most common camping injuries.

Rule 7: Carry Basic First Aid

Burns should be run under cool (not cold) water for at least 20 minutes and covered with a clean, non-fluffy dressing. Do not apply butter, toothpaste or other folk remedies. For any burn larger than a 50p coin, seek medical attention.

Gas Canister Safety

• Store canisters upright in a ventilated area, away from heat and direct sunlight
• Never puncture, incinerate or crush gas canisters — even empty ones contain residual gas
• Dispose of empty canisters at recycling centres that accept pressurised containers
• Do not use damaged or dented canisters

Children and Camping Stoves

Establish a clear no-go zone around the cooking area. Teach children that the stove is not a toy and that the metal parts remain hot long after the flame is off. Supervise constantly. Consider positioning the stove on a raised table rather than at ground level where small children can reach it.

Safe cooking makes for better camping. Browse safe, reliable stoves from trusted brands in our camping stove collection, and equip your camp kitchen with proper cookware that handles heat safely.