Topsail, Destin FL Campfire Questions

[bncinwv]

Doing research on the web, I have rcome across different rules with regards to campfires at Topsail Hill in Florida. Are they permitted?? I think they are temporarily banned due to drought conditions, is this the case?? I assume if that is the case, they will be permitted in November. We have a portable fire ring, are those allowed?? With the onset in the north of the Ash Borer and some states forbidding bringing in firewood, is this an issue in Florida?? As can be seen, we are just slightly looking ahead to Thanksgiving!!!! Thanks for any info you can provide.
Bingo

[Emmel]

Bingo, when you get closer to arrival dates, I suggest calling the park and ask them what if any, bans are in place at that time.
Right now, in our home county in Ohio, we are not allowed to take in or out any firewood. The fine there is $250 a stick up to a max of $4K per load. And whats worse, you have to surrender the wood!
If they allow fires, go to a local skid builder and take the LUMBER scraps. Note, I said LUMBER! Everywhere we have been since the firewood ban has agreed that building lumber was not afected by the ban. The lumber has been kiln dried and kills the little buggers.
By the way, Destin is a beautiful area, enjoy it!

[bncinwv]

I will probably do that, but was hoping to start dreaming at night about sitting around the campfire in what I see is a beautiful park with great sites. Actually found a guy on Webshots that has a photo of EVERY site at Topsail....now that is dedication. Daggone I wish the next four months would hurry up and get over with!!!!!
Bingo

[indy roadrunner]

Bingo, having been to TopSail for several vacations I think it best if you have some understanding of why they don't allow campfires. TopSail was originally a RV resort before it became a state park. It has lots of decorative plants between sites that could very easly become a fire hazard. They do not have any fire rings at the sites. They have allowed some above ground wood burners (enclosed) but if it is dry conditions they don't even allow that. When it was real dry they didn't even allow open charcol fires. It is such a scenic type of campground with all the trees and vegation, I bet smoke from campfires would get pretty heavy especially in the 100 section. I know some people think that if you can't have a campfire then you are not camping well.......TopSail is just not that type of campground. If you just have to have a campfire - try St Andrews State Park at Panama City. At least there you can get a site and back up to the water's edge. (Bay Side).

[Dave Nowlin]

The times we have been at Topsail in the past, charcoal grills weren't allowed. We were told in May in Gulf Shores Alabama that that whole area in in a 3 year drought. The main pond at Gulf Breeze Campground was about 8 feet low.
Dave Nowlin