White man’s fire 

When an inexperienced outdoorsman or homeowner attempts to light a bonfire, using improper technique combined with wet wood, resulting in a smoky, smouldering plume that smokes out the whole area so all the neighbours can see and smell it.

Often takes several attempts occasionally using lighter fluid, gasoline or other flammable substances to achieve proper combustion and still required to throw cardboard and / or mixed recycling on top after the fact in order to keep it going. Will periodically fan with a large Tupperware or garbage can lid in order to sustain the fire. It’s about a 20 minute process.

Craig’s been working at that fire for 20 minutes now has done nothing but give off smoke signals…

There’s hardly any flame but I can see the smoke from across the lake, must be a white man’s fire.

White man’s fire by Definerofdefinitions October 3, 2023

White Man's Fire

An unnecessarily large campfire that quickly burns up all the firewood, produces excessive heat and flames, and alerts anyone within a several mile perimiter that a novice outdoorsman is camping nearby.

I could see the white man's fire burning from across the fuckin' valley.

White Man's Fire by avta March 7, 2010