Manducation: How to Build a Campfire

A great bear once said, “Only you can prevent forest fires” (Smokey that is, but you knew that already).

I can’t think of one guy I know who didn’t get benched, scolded, grounded at least once for playing with or starting a fire when they were younger. By the time we are grown, you’d think most of us would be certified experts in knowing how to build a campfire. The truth is, most guys don’t have this skill in their repertoire so here is a simple Manducation on “How to Build a Campfire.”

Preparation

The first step in building a campfire is choosing where to build it. Do not build a campfire in hazardous or dry conditions or if the campground rules prohibit it. If there is already a fire pit, use it. If not, you have to build your own. Choose a spot that is at least ten feet away from tents, shrubs, trees, other flammable objects and overhead branches that could catch on fire.

Once you choose a location you have to build a fire pit. This pit should be about two feet in diameter and about a foot deep. The sides of the pit should be vertical or nearly vertical and the bottom should be as flat as possible. Move any flammable materials from the edge of the fire and line the fire pit with fist-sized stones all the way around the perimeter.

Gathering Wood

There’s three types of wood that must be collected in order to start a fire:
Tinder: small twigs, sticks and needles, narrow strips of bark
Kindling: larger sticks slightly smaller than 1″ around
Fuel: large sticks and small logs (Large logs are good but make sure you have different sizes of fuel to get the fire started.)

When collecting wood make sure it’s not damp or covered with moss. Find dry wood under fallen trees or collect wood that has fallen off trees but is stuck in tree branches and is off the ground. Finding dry wood can be the difference in having a working fire or not. Collect these three types of wood and put them into a pile at least three feet from the fire pit.

Building and Lighting

There are many different types of fires that can be built, but this guide will help build a teepee fire. The teepee fire produces tall flames and is great for cooking as well as warm campfires.

To build a teepee make a small pile of tinder in the center of the fire pit. Then create a pyramid or “teepee” with the kindling over the tinder. Make sure to leave enough room on the sides so that air can get in the middle of the teepee.

To light the fire ignite the tinder with a match or a long lighter. As the flame grows slowly add more tinder but make sure theres enough oxygen to keep the fire alive. Blowing lightly at the base of the fire will help oxygen flow but blow in rhythmic cycles as to not feel dizzy. As the fire grows, work your way up in wood sizes until you have the large, fuel logs burning.

Maintaining and Extinguishing

Keep the fire small and contained. Carefully place new logs on the fire when needed but make sure to leave room for the fire to breath. When ready to extinguish the fire, pour enough water over it to cool the embers. Don’t completely flood the pit as someone might need to use the fire pit another day. Move the embers around with a stick to make sure they all get doused by the water. A fire is out when nothing hisses when you pour water over it.