How To Build The Perfect Campfire

Because is it really camping without the perfect campfire?

The best camping moments always happen around a campfire. Whether you are using it to cook food, warm up, or just create that cozy atmosphere under the stars, there are many different ways to make a fire!

Building The Perfect Campfire

Any of the structures below will produce a good campfire, but choose the one that works best for you!

Creates a long lasting fire

Place pieces of firewood in a star formation pointing out, and layer some of the middle pieces on top of each other. Place kindling in the center.

Put two pieces of firewood parallel, and place kindling in the middle.

Place two more pieces on top, perpendicular to the bottom pieces, repeat, making it narrower as it gets taller

Great for starting a fire in windy conditions!

Place firewood leaning against stone, or a larger log. Place kindling underneath.

Burns quickly, but is great for cooking.

Balance firewood pieces against each other to create a cone shape. Place kindling underneath.

What You Need To Start The Perfect Campfire

Tinder – Tiny pieces of wood, dried moss, leaves, needles, etc

Kindling – Small dry pieces of wood or sticks

Fuel – Larger pieces of firewood to sustain the flame

Use waterproof matches or a lighter, and ignite the tinder beneath the frame of larger firewood and gently blow on the flame, slowly adding kindling as it grows and eventually catches onto larger logs.

Additional Tips For Wet Conditions

Starting a fire when the ground or wood is wet can be very difficult. There are many things you can use to quickly ignite a stubborn fire, such as

Dryer lint / sheets stuffed into a toilet paper roll

Cotton balls soaked in oil / petroleum jelly

Unopened snack sized bag of chips or cheese puffs

Quickfire packets and other brand name firestarters

Sticky material like spruce, firs, pines and other needle bearing trees are highly flammable. Evergreens thick limbs keep out the damp, so try searching for dry wood underneath them! Split wet firewood or peel off the damp bark to expose the dry wood inside and help it catch faster.