The campfire is a summer staple. Many Canadians barbecue on it, gather ‘round it, and have a repertoire of songs dedicated to sitting beside it. Now, a Kelowna inventor is hoping to take the traditional campfire and turn it on its head—literally.
Leo Knight is the inventor of "Campfire in a Can," a portable system in which users build campfires by stacking the wood vertically, instead of horizontally.
In the "Campfire in a Can," the fire burns inside of a raised metal canister with holes in the side to let out hot air. Firewood is propped up in the cylinder-shaped container.
The package also includes a lid which can be used to extinguish the fire. And the canister can be collapsed and packed away afterwards.
The entire system costs just over $200.
The unique design is efficient, convenient, and allows for better heat distribution, Knight told CTV Vancouver.
"I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about fire and how fire works," he said.
But at this stage, his device is still a prototype. Knight needs $80,000 to launch the product, and he’s turning to the Canadian public to ask for their help.
Knight is fundraising online on Kickstarter. So far, he’s attracted 178 backers and almost $22,800. He has until July 31 to raise the remaining money.
Donors also have the option putting their Kickstarter donation towards pre-purchasing a can at a discounted price. For now, that means they get a card, but if Knight raises the money he needs for manufacturing, then he’ll send cans to early-bird purchasers.
"It has a big potential. The trick is to get out there and let the people see that it’s not a toy. It really works," Knight said to CTV.
If fundraising is successful, Knight hopes production will be in full swing by this fall, which means that by next summer, some Canadians could be roasting their marshmallows over a canned fire.
With a report from CTV Vancouver’s Kent Molgat
