A campfire permit is meant to be used outside of what you call a civilized cg on state or federal land-unless other wise prohibited. You always need to check on fire conditions/restrictions before camping in a area. Another words,if you have one, depending on current fire restrictions, you can build a fire in one of those rock rings or iron fire hearths you see in the dry camps and cgs most of us camp in. You need it to build a fire when.back packing. There are also times that you can not even build a fire in a a pre made fire hearth or .rock ring anywhere inside or out side of a cg. Every cg has a set of posted rules on when or where you can build a fire. One rule to remember ,especially when camping in a dry cg, is that when camp fires are prohibited, if you have a CF permit you can usually use propane stove outside , but usually not a BBQ. If for no other reason than this this is why to get a cf permit- w/o it you cook in the camper. Sometimes due to fire restrictions, Nevada also requires a cg permit in NW Nevada to build a fire. That help?
Smoke