Install a fiberglass collar if the tent does not already have one. According to the experts at Winter Trekking, a fiberglass collar allows the stove pipe to exit through the tent wall or ceiling. It protects the fabric of the tent from the heat.
Position the stove correctly. The experts at the Canvas Tent Shop recommend having at least 2 feet of clearance on all sides. All flammable items should also be kept at least 2 feet from the stove.
Install a spark arrestor at the end of the stove pipe. A spark arrestor traps the sparks escaping up the stove pipe and prevents them from falling back onto the tent and burning it. Falling sparks can also ignite a dead tree or leaves around the tent.
Control the heat produced by the stove. An overly hot tent can cause serious health damage and may cause the walls of the tent to catch on fire despite the distance, say the experts at Winter Trekking. If the tent gets too hot, shovel out some of the hot coals or burning wood into the snow or a safe fire pit outside of the tent.
Ventilate the tent. Leaving a small section of the door flap unzipped will allow carbon monoxide and other noxious fumes to escape and fresh oxygen to enter. Without ventilation, a fully sealed winter tent can suffocate its inhabitants when a fire is burning.
