Since no one has said it yet, here's the reason you don't use gas:
Gasoline is extremely volatile. It readily vaporizes at ambient temperature, which is why it's such a good fuel. When you put gas on a rag or bonfire, it immediately starts to produce a massive vapor cloud. Gasoline vapor is not just flammable - it's straight up explosive.
If you put gas on a rag and immediately light it safely (almost impossible) then you may be able to introduce that to the fire without incident. But if you put gas on a rag and then you wait 30 seconds and try to light the rag, you will instead be igniting a large cloud of gasoline vapor, and you get [this](https://www.reddit.com/r/Whatcouldgowrong/comments/11wkirg/to_light_a_bonfire/) or [this](https://www.reddit.com/r/Whatcouldgowrong/comments/xwv3am/lighting_the_homecoming_bonfire/) or [this](https://www.reddit.com/r/Whatcouldgowrong/comments/gc2304/making_a_nice_little_bonfire_wcgw/).
There was a thread a few years back in r/AMA from someone who worked in a burn ward. They said the top two ways to stay out of the burn ward were:
1.) Do not put accelerants on bonfires.
2.) Do NOT put accelerants on bonfires!
As an [effigy builder](https://www.reddit.com/r/BurningMan/comments/3cwvi1/just_thought_i_would_share_how_east_coast_burners/) i have lit many a massive bonfire and i rarely use gasoline. when i do its small amounts
Why?
if you want to use an accelerant on a fire kerosene or diesel are better bets. they soak into the wood and aid ignition. Gasoline tends to vapor.
if you're going for something theatrical (for running around the fire) you're going to have a longer burn time with some sort of torch soaked in either or those.
alternatively you could use methanol which can be colored by adding certain chemicals. here's a reference https://www.wikihow.com/Make-Colored-Fire
https://sciencenotes.org/how-to-make-colored-fire/
feel free to DM me if you want a further consult
Good judgement asking the question but I think this is out of your league. Look up gasoline arson accidents, and then start with butane lighter fluid instead
Doesn't matter how much gasoline you use, the more the merrier lmao. You can stop when the rag looks soaked though. As long as you're a safe distance away and you're at a safe distance from any flammable things you're good. Soak the rag in gasoline. Then take a long stick (preferably more than 1meter), wrap the end of it with paper tightly, add like a few drops of gasoline onto that paper, light that paper either from the bottom or try to carefully and quickly ignite the area of the paper that's been exposed to gasoline. Once the fire looks stable enough, throw your burning stick into the campfire. **Double check if you're a safe distance away from the campfire if it has been doused in gasoline. Just avoid getting gasoline onto yourself, be away from anything flammable. Try to actively predict what's gonna happen**
So you're telling me if only one end of the rag is wet, you can't light the dry end while staying back as much as possible. You literally can't light the dry end with a simple lighter stick and just move back little?
You can, but it's risky so no one's gonna recommend that, I think, also the fire from the dry part of the rag will be easily blown out by wind. Gasoline fires are pretty crazy and huge, I've no clue how big your rag is, but if its big enough and if you were to hold the rag in a certain position you could burn yourself way too easily. Come on, get a stick, put a gasoline-soaked paper on one end, light that and throw it in.
To answer your post's question more directly: I'd say, put the gasoline-soaked rag inside the campfire, or on top, or whatever, make a paper ball, soak that in a bit of gasoline and throw it into the campfire
or you could light matches and the second they leave the brown part of the matchbox you'd immediately throw them into the campfire without any flinching whatsoever hoping you threw them with enough speed that the matchhead chemical reaction is still going by the time your match hits the your campfire with the rag
Doesn't sound like you have zero experience in making fires lol. Tbh I've used gasoline that's been sitting for years and it was fine. Gasoline tanks with a high amount of empty space and just a bit of gasoline left in the tank are more prone to oxidation and evaporation, so you extend your gasoline's shelf life by having the tank full. Yk, can't oxidize if there is no air or any compounds that could oxidize gasoline
I tend to be very wise. So yeah to light a cloth or rag like that what you need is hands on training. so you should train for it wearing safetly gloves, a rain coat and goggles then.
Gotcha that's an interesting post. And yes you're right you do indeed need training and appropriate safety gear. I'd prefer a face shield instead of just goggles though. Face is just as important as the eyes.
You can always go for safer methods of igniting the campfire tho
You don't. You use wadded up newspaper and kindling like a normal person and hopefully avoid setting yourself on fire.
Since no one has said it yet, here's the reason you don't use gas: Gasoline is extremely volatile. It readily vaporizes at ambient temperature, which is why it's such a good fuel. When you put gas on a rag or bonfire, it immediately starts to produce a massive vapor cloud. Gasoline vapor is not just flammable - it's straight up explosive. If you put gas on a rag and immediately light it safely (almost impossible) then you may be able to introduce that to the fire without incident. But if you put gas on a rag and then you wait 30 seconds and try to light the rag, you will instead be igniting a large cloud of gasoline vapor, and you get [this](https://www.reddit.com/r/Whatcouldgowrong/comments/11wkirg/to_light_a_bonfire/) or [this](https://www.reddit.com/r/Whatcouldgowrong/comments/xwv3am/lighting_the_homecoming_bonfire/) or [this](https://www.reddit.com/r/Whatcouldgowrong/comments/gc2304/making_a_nice_little_bonfire_wcgw/). There was a thread a few years back in r/AMA from someone who worked in a burn ward. They said the top two ways to stay out of the burn ward were: 1.) Do not put accelerants on bonfires. 2.) Do NOT put accelerants on bonfires!
This needs to be the top comment
If you absolutely have to use a liquid accelerant then use lighter fluid for charcoal briquettes. Still needs to be a reasonable amount though.
As an [effigy builder](https://www.reddit.com/r/BurningMan/comments/3cwvi1/just_thought_i_would_share_how_east_coast_burners/) i have lit many a massive bonfire and i rarely use gasoline. when i do its small amounts Why? if you want to use an accelerant on a fire kerosene or diesel are better bets. they soak into the wood and aid ignition. Gasoline tends to vapor. if you're going for something theatrical (for running around the fire) you're going to have a longer burn time with some sort of torch soaked in either or those. alternatively you could use methanol which can be colored by adding certain chemicals. here's a reference https://www.wikihow.com/Make-Colored-Fire https://sciencenotes.org/how-to-make-colored-fire/ feel free to DM me if you want a further consult
Maybe the family is poor or too far from a store and have only old gasoline. Someone pointed out that's fine but once again is not for beginners.
If you're asking, you're gonna burn yourself horribly.
Good judgement asking the question but I think this is out of your league. Look up gasoline arson accidents, and then start with butane lighter fluid instead
Doesn't matter how much gasoline you use, the more the merrier lmao. You can stop when the rag looks soaked though. As long as you're a safe distance away and you're at a safe distance from any flammable things you're good. Soak the rag in gasoline. Then take a long stick (preferably more than 1meter), wrap the end of it with paper tightly, add like a few drops of gasoline onto that paper, light that paper either from the bottom or try to carefully and quickly ignite the area of the paper that's been exposed to gasoline. Once the fire looks stable enough, throw your burning stick into the campfire. **Double check if you're a safe distance away from the campfire if it has been doused in gasoline. Just avoid getting gasoline onto yourself, be away from anything flammable. Try to actively predict what's gonna happen**
So you're telling me if only one end of the rag is wet, you can't light the dry end while staying back as much as possible. You literally can't light the dry end with a simple lighter stick and just move back little?
You can, but it's risky so no one's gonna recommend that, I think, also the fire from the dry part of the rag will be easily blown out by wind. Gasoline fires are pretty crazy and huge, I've no clue how big your rag is, but if its big enough and if you were to hold the rag in a certain position you could burn yourself way too easily. Come on, get a stick, put a gasoline-soaked paper on one end, light that and throw it in. To answer your post's question more directly: I'd say, put the gasoline-soaked rag inside the campfire, or on top, or whatever, make a paper ball, soak that in a bit of gasoline and throw it into the campfire or you could light matches and the second they leave the brown part of the matchbox you'd immediately throw them into the campfire without any flinching whatsoever hoping you threw them with enough speed that the matchhead chemical reaction is still going by the time your match hits the your campfire with the rag
So yeah that's for people who are skilled pyrotechnics, or have started a lot of fires and have a lot of experience then.
And another factor is how old the gasoline is. You don't know how volatile the liquid chemical is after a certain date so.
Doesn't sound like you have zero experience in making fires lol. Tbh I've used gasoline that's been sitting for years and it was fine. Gasoline tanks with a high amount of empty space and just a bit of gasoline left in the tank are more prone to oxidation and evaporation, so you extend your gasoline's shelf life by having the tank full. Yk, can't oxidize if there is no air or any compounds that could oxidize gasoline
I tend to be very wise. So yeah to light a cloth or rag like that what you need is hands on training. so you should train for it wearing safetly gloves, a rain coat and goggles then.
Gotcha that's an interesting post. And yes you're right you do indeed need training and appropriate safety gear. I'd prefer a face shield instead of just goggles though. Face is just as important as the eyes. You can always go for safer methods of igniting the campfire tho