Secondly, pine cones are safe to use for campfires, as well as indoor camp stoves and fireplaces. Additionally, they light quickly, burn well, and can double as kindling as you build your fire.

New growth sprouts on the branch of a pitch pine tree that was burnt during a June wildfire in Wharton State Forest that burnt more than 13,000 acres, Tuesday, July 26, 2022.

Pitch pine trees (Pinus rigida) grow along the eastern North American coast and as far south as northern Georgia. This species thrives in a humid climate and on sandy, shallow soils.

Pitch pine is adapted to grow in poor soils. You'll find it in sandy areas of the state. ... The seeds are released in instantly recognizable pine cones on a seven-year cycle.

Red pine cones are mature when they have turned from green to purplish with red-brown ... Wear gloves so your hands don’t get covered in sap. Do not mistake Austrian or Scotch pine for red pine.