**This content is provided for educational purposes only. Outdoor activities and fire use involve risks, and conditions vary. The Navigating Mom is not responsible for injuries, accidents, or damages. Parents and guardians are responsible for supervising children and following all local laws and fire regulations.***
**The Navigating Mom (and this post) may contain affiliate links. If you purchase from one of these links, we may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you.****
Building a camp fire is a fun and memorable part of any family camping trip! It is also an essential outdoor safety skill for both kids and adults. It may not seem like a daunting task, but it can be difficult at times to get a fire going. There is some technique that you have to follow when starting a campfire.
The first time that I went camping with my daughter and we attempted to start a fire (with her observing only), there was a lot of frustration and trying to get things just right. It took us an hour or more to get it going. Now, when going camping it is almost like second nature.
Steps For Starting a Campfire
Having a campfire at the end of the night is a camping tradition. Roasting s’mores and telling scary stories (or any kind of stories!) is a fun and relaxing way to end a day exploring. Following some simple steps can help guide you when learning how to build a fire, or trying to teach your children how to do it.
1. Verify Campfires Are Permitted
The first thing you will want to do before starting your fire is to make sure campfires are permitted at your location. You will want to take several factors into consideration, such as weather conditions, the park’s rules and regulations, any burn bans in effect, and proximity to flammable items.
The weather is always a huge consideration when starting a fire. If it is a very windy day or it has been especially dry for a period of time, this can increase the chances of sparks flying and a potential wild fire occurring.
If you are camping in undeveloped areas, check with the agency that oversees the land in case a campfire permit is required, as many times they are.
2. Find Or Build A Fire Ring
Once you have verified that campfires are permitted, you will want to either find an established fire ring (most established camp sites have these) or make one yourself.
If you are at a camp ground, build your fire only in the provided rings, grills, or fireplaces. If you are back country camping, try to find already established rings. If there are none, you will want to build your own. It should be at least 15 feet from items that may burn, including tents, shrubs, trees, etc. The base of your fire pit should be sand, gravel, or mineral soil.
3. Gather Firewood
After you have your fire ring, you will want to gather your firewood. There are three types of wood you will need to start the fire: tinder, kindling, and firewood.
- Tinder: Small, easily burnable materials like small twigs, dry leaves, needles, or forest duff.
- Kindling: Small sticks (pencil to thumb size)
- Firewood: Large pieces of wood. You want to try to make sure these are not bigger in diameter than your wrist-this will make putting the fire out easier.
Use only local wood when camping. Bringing in wood from other destinations can introduce invasive and harmful species into the environment that can harm native plant and wildlife. Within 10 miles is ideal, but no more than 50 miles.
If you are back country camping, gather only downed wood for burning. Do not cut down live trees or use dead trees. Wildlife may use these trees for shelter. Always follow the Leave No Trace Principles when camping.
4. Build the Campfire
Once you have gathered your firewood, it’s time to start building the fire. There are several different methods of starting a fire, each with a little bit of a different purpose.
- Tepee/Cone: The cone method involves piling a small cone of kindling around a pile of tinder in the center of the fire ring. As the fire heats up, add the larger fire wood a couple of times to maintain the fire. This type of fire is generally short lasting as it burns through wood quickly.
- Log Cabin: The log cabin method involves placing two larger pieces of firewood parallel to each other with some room in between. You will then turn 90 degrees and place two slightly smaller pieces on top and perpendicular to form a square. Tinder should be placed inside the square. Continue to add a few more layers of firewood around the perimeter, getting smaller with each layer. Complete it with a layer of tinder and kindling in the square in the center, which you will then ignite. This type of fire is long lasting and can be used for cooking meals.
- Platform: The platform method involves placing 3 or 4 logs side by side to form the bottom layer. You will then want to turn and add a second layer, with slightly smaller logs. Continue to alternate for a couple more layers, before placing the tinder and kindling on top. This type of fire is longer-lasting and good for cooking.
- Lean-to Fire: A lean-to fire is good for starting and maintaining a fire when it is windy. A lean-to fire uses the wood to create a barrier from the wind. For this type of fire you will want to place a thick log on the ground and lean your tinder up against it away from the wind. Place your kindling against the log covering the tinder. As the fire grows continue to add larger sticks and another larger pieces of fire wood.
Once you have your campfire set up complete, it’s time to light the fire! You can use a match or lighter to first light the tinder. Blowing on the fire may help to get the fire going because it gives the fire more oxygen. Of course, you want to watch your distance.
We recommend against using things like lighter fluid and gas to ignite the fire. This can be unsafe and result in larger bursts of flames.
5. Maintain the Fire
To maintain a campfire once you have it started, you will want to periodically add new wood. There is no set recommended time frame, you will want to add one piece of wood when the fire begins to die down to maintain it.
In general, add one small piece of wood at a time every 10–20 minutes, depending on how the fire is burning. The goal is to keep the fire steady and controlled, not large or roaring. Do not add to much wood to prevent the fire from becoming too big.
At all times you want to keep the fire small, controlled, and watched over by an adult. Do not throw trash or dangerous items in the fire, such as aerosols, pressurized containers, batteries, glass, or aluminum.
6. Extinguish the Fire
Ensuring that a fire is properly put out is essential, as most wildfires related to campfires are the result of campfires that are not fully extinguished. Even if there are not direct signs the fire is still going (smoke, glowing embers), a fire may still restart if there is still heat under the surface. To extinguish the fire, you will want to use the drown, stir, and feel method.
You should always keep a shovel, bucket of water, and dirt if possible nearby. These things will help you to put the fire out quickly.
The Drown, Stir, & Feel Method:
- Ensure all sticks and logs are burnt to white ash.
- Pour water over the fire. If you have dirt available, add that to the fire.
- Mix the water, hot coals, and dirt with a shovel or stick.
- Place your hand over the area and see if you can feel heat. Don’t actually touch it. If you can still feel heat, repeat the steps again until it feels cold.
7. Clean Up the Fire
After the fire has been extinguished, you will want to clean up the area. Ensure that all sticks/logs have been burnt to white ash. Do not place trash into the fire that cannot be fully burned to ash. If you did burn down materials that are not fully burnable, remove the debris from the pit and properly dispose of it or carry it out with you.
If you do build your own fire ring while backcountry camping, dismantle it when you leave the area. Scatter the cold ashes over a wide area away from trails, water, and the campsite. Scatter any blackened rocks that you used for the fire ring. Refill the area with dirt, making it look as natural as possible.
Never bury any hot coals or leave them sitting around as this could reignite a fire.
How To Start A Campfire When You Only Have Wet Wood Available
Starting a fire when it is wet outside or when you have wet wood can be very challenging. However, there may be times, especially when back country camping, when this may be necessary for cooking or heat.
While difficult, it is not impossible. You can try to find some dry inner wood by splitting logs. You will want to make sure you find extra tinder and kindling. You will want this to be dry if possible.
Building a platform off of the wet ground will also help get the fire started. You can do this by piling dirt or wood and creating a platform. After you have the platform add extra kindling, and slowly introduce the damp wood, giving the heat from the fire time to dry out the wood.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Materials Do I Need To Start A Campfire?
You’ll need tinder, kindling, dry firewood, and a spark or flame source such as matches, a lighter, or flint and steel.
What Are The Basic Steps To Make A Campfire?
Find a safe spot in a permitted location, gather your wood, create a tinder bed, add kindling, and build your chosen fire layout. Ensure good airflow so the flame can catch and grow.
How Do I Stay Safe When Starting A Fire?
Only use designated fire rings, keep a safe distance from the fire, never leave a fire unattended, fully extinguish the fire before bed or leaving camp, and keep water, dirt, or sand on hand to put out flames in an emergency.
What Campfire Type Is Best For Cooking?
For cooking with pots and pans, use a platform fire. For cooking with sticks/skewers, a Tepee burns quickly and gets hot quickly. For foil wrapped meals, wait for a solid coal base under any layout.
What Are The Most Common Mistakes When Starting A Fire?
The common mistakes that make it difficult to start a fire include using wet wood, skipping steps when building the fire, depriving the fire of oxygen, ignoring the wind, creating a structure that is too loose, using starting logs that are to big, and building on a cold, wet ground.
**This content is provided for educational purposes only. Outdoor activities and fire use involve risks, and conditions vary. The Navigating Mom is not responsible for injuries, accidents, or damages. Parents and guardians are responsible for supervising children and following all local laws and fire regulations.***
**The Navigating Mom (and this post) may contain affiliate links. If you purchase from one of these links, we may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you.****
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