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.
