ALI143 -- speaking as a scout leader (both boy and girl), I would tell your son that paper is not allowed in the fire. Paper tends to fly (float) as it burns in a campfire and can be dangerous (I've seen it land and light nearby grass and float into the trees).
I know that people burn trash in fires, but we use this rule to discourage comments just like your son's. I've also taught kids about how every time we light a fire we add to the pollution problem so we don't light fires just to have one. Fires are tools that we use to warm us up, cook our food, and heat the water to clean us up.
Now, your firefighter friend is WAY off base (in my opinion). You don't have to go camping to learn how to light a match, or flick a bic. Mine had just been to camp and had used matches to light our fires there...so??? why at home where the house could have burned down??? Totally different problem.
By the way, I'm a mom and I take my kids camping. Dh wouldn't know a tent or firecircle if it bit him! LOL
