How to build a Campfire - a step by step guide

Step 1: Position your campfire

First things first, position your campfire at least three meters (10 feet) away from anything flammable like your tent or overhanging trees. Ideally, the area will be sheltered from the wind but always leave enough distance to protect yourself and the environment.

Look for flat ground on which to build your campfire to prevent flaming embers from rolling down the hillside.

Step 2: Create your fire bed

If your campsite has designated fire pits, always use them. If you’re wild camping, use a pre-existing fire bed whenever possible. Naturally, there will be occasions on which you have to make your own.

Your fire bed should be on exposed earth and not grass (especially dead grass). If you can’t find an area like this, you can dig away grass and plant material or pile up some dirt into a small platform (always check local guidelines first).

Give your fire plenty of space by creating a large bed for it as dry grass, branches and plant material can all be a hazard.

Step 3: Create a ring of rocks

It’s good practice to use a ring of rocks to help contain the fire. Use dry rocks about the size of a clenched fist and space them apart so some air can still circulate at the bottom of the fire.

Don’t build your fire against large boulders or objects as it will leave unsightly marks. Also, avoid using damp or wet rocks as they can spit moisture and even fracture as they heat up.

Step 4: Gather your wood

1) Bring Tinder

To start an effective campfire, you must start with tinder, which are the smallest fire-starting materials and burn the easiest. The tinder must be dry, so it’s best to bring tinder with you from home instead of looking for it while camping. You can use a variety of household items as tinder, such as:

• Wood shavings
• Wadded newspaper
• Cardboard
• Wax
• Dryer lint
• Commercial fire sticks

2) Gather kindling

To keep your fire burning, you’ll need to add some more substantial material to the tinder. Kindling is larger than tinder materials, but not so large that it will smother the fire’s flames. Look around your campground for small twigs and branches to use as kindling.

Choose twigs and branches with a diameter between ⅛- and ½-inch, or approximately the width of a pencil.

Just as with tinder, it’s important that your kindling materials are dry. If there are any damp areas on the twigs and branches, use a pocket knife to carefully whittle them off.

3) Collect firewood

For your campfire to really maintain its flames, you must add larger pieces of wood. These materials, usually known as firewood or fuelwood, can be anywhere from 1- to 5-inches in diameter, so you can use complete logs or split larger pieces of wood into smaller chunks.

You shouldn’t break branches off trees to use as firewood or you’ll ruin the trees at your campsite. Instead, look for pieces that have already fallen off.

Look for firewood that bends or snaps easily. That way, you’ll know it’s dry enough to burn in the fire.

You don’t want to use firewood that’s too large because it will take much longer to start burning.

If you’re not sure whether wood is the right size, compare it to your wrist or forearm -- they should be about the same size.

Step 5: Lay your fire

There are several ways to lay your fire depending on what your needs are. Nearly all start with either a tepee or lean-to fire lay.

Tepee: Place a bundle of tinder in the centre of your fire bed and then build a tepee around and above it using your kindling wood. Leave a small gap for lighting and to let air in.

Tepee

Gradually build this up with kindling and then add to it with some of your smaller fuel wood. With both the kindling and the fuel wood try to keep the thicker ends at the bottom.

Lean-to: Stick a long piece of kindling into the ground at about a 30-degree angle – this will be your support stick. It can also be leaned against a bigger log instead.

Lean-to

Bundle tinder and some smaller kindling under the support stick before laying kindling against it around the outside. Add another layer.

Step 6: Light your fire

When lighting your campfire you want to alight the tinder right in the centre as quickly as possible. Matches can get wet and easily blow out outdoors.