For all of those that like to enjoy a bonfire on a cool fall night or a simply as a place to warm during winter sports, Stephens Lake Park is the place for you.
Located near the Collins Shelter, the department constructed a 3-ft diameter fire pit. This pit, designed to meet all state and local laws regarding recreational fires may be rented or used on a first come first served basis. Wood for the firepit is provided by the Parks and Recreation Department and is kept on site only during the winter sports season.
When there is 4-inches or more of snow, park staff may be available to assist with starting fires in the pit. During these cases, trained Forestry staff may be seen utilizing the same fuel that they use in their driptorches. A driptorch is a tool used in wildland firefighting, controlled burning, and other forestry applications to intentionally ignite fires. This fuel, often representing a mixture of about 30% gasoline with 70% diesel, is commonly used in driptorches. Often you'll see Forestry staff using controlled burning to manage or assist the development of native prairies at the Forum, Grindstone, and Garth Avenue natural areas.
For the public, the use of gasoline is strictly prohibitive as a fuel to start the fire. As the below fire pit rules indicate, the department recommends that paper or manufactured logs be used to ignite the fire.
1. The fire pit is considered part of the Collins Shelter and is not available to others if the shelter is reserved. If the shelter is not rented, it is available on a first come, first served basis.
2. The Collins Shelter is used as the warming area during the Winter Sports Season. Therefore, the shelter and fire pit is not available for rental during winter sports activities such as sledding, ice skating and cross country skiing.
3. Columbia Fire Department permits are not required.
4. It is the responsibility of the renter to provide fuel for burning. State laws dictate that only natural materials such as aged logs may be burned. Items such as pallets, scrap lumber, treated lumber, tires, leaves, etc, are expressly prohibited. Logs shall be limited to three foot (3’) in length.
5. Combustible fuels such as gasoline, diesel or kerosene shall not be used to start or keep fires burning. Charcoal lighter fluid, paper or manufactured starter logs are recommended.
6. It is against City of Columbia Ordinances for any person in a park to damage, cut, or remove any tree or branch in a park. Therefore, renters should not expect to find burning materials in the park.
7. Fires must be kept with the boundaries of the designated fire pit. State laws require that recreational fires may be no larger than three foot by three foot (3’ X 3’).
8. It is the responsibility of the renter to extinguish the fire upon completion of the event. A frost proof water hydrant is located near the shelter. It is recommended that the renters should bring a 25-foot garden hose or a 5 gallon bucket for fire control and to extinguish the fire. No hose or bucket will be provided by the City. The water hydrant is locked and renters must check out a key on the last business day prior to their event.
9. All logs that have not been burned must be removed by the renter. Logs that have been partially burned may be left in the fire pit.
10. Straw or hay bales are not to be used for seating and/or decorative purposes.
11. All fires will be inspected by the Park Ranger to insure compliance with the above policy.
