Understanding the principles of fire safety is crucial, especially when engaging in activities such as camping or enjoying an evening bonfire. Before we begin, we have to mention that it’s not always possible to have a campfire safely, so check the campsite’s web site, or call ahead to make sure it’s okay. Also, some places forbid open fires in fire season, so check that out, too.
Having said all that, knowing how to build a campfire safely is essential, so let’s delve into this fundamental skill set. Don’t worry, you’ll be confident in no time.
In a hurry? (Jump to where you want.)
Table of contents:
The Basics of Fire (And, obviously, campfires)
First things first:
Before we can get into how to build a campfire safely, we need a little science. Hey, it’ll be be fun. You’re here for a comprehensive guide, are you not? Okay, then.
A fire needs three things to burn: heat, fuel, and oxygen. This trio is sometimes called the ‘fire triangle.’
- Fuel: Gather dry wood—starting with tinder (small twigs and leaves – the best stuff is not to be found on the ground), kindling (twigs, or shavings from your knife and sticks smaller in diameter than your thumb – smaller is better, and get lots – more than you think you could possibly need), then larger pieces of wood.
- A flame or spark: Use matches or a lighter to ignite the tinder. (That’s the heat.)
- Oxygen: Make sure that your fire setup allows airflow; without it, even if you have heat and fuel, the flame will die out. No oxygen – no flames. Leave space for oxygen.
Choose Your Location Wisely
Always select an appropriate spot for your safe campfire:
- Always build a campfire safely away from tents
- Clear from overhanging branches
- Shielded from wind
- Preferably within existing campsite rings or pits
- If there is no existing ring, build it in a barbecue, or fire basket.
Never start fires beneath trees where roots could smolder unseen underground – these can cause forest fires later on!
Preparing The Site
Clear away any debris around where you’ll light the fire:
- Create bare soil circles at least 10 feet wide.
- If there’s no designated pit available use stones to form a circle that serves as containment for errant sparks.
Remember that preparation includes always having water nearby in case you need to extinguish flames quickly.
Building Your Fire Step-by-Step
There are many different ways to build your campfire. My “go-to” is the upside-down fire. It’s just what you think:
- Put down three or four larger pieces of wood. Make the surface as flat as possible. This is your foundation, we are going to build the fire on this space. (This is great for when things are wet, as the fire above draws the damp out of the fuel below, and the larger pieces of wood keep the actual fire up off the damp ground. By the time you’ve got a good blaze going, the fire above will gradually start the larger logs below.)
- Add your tinder. The images below are from a beach campfire. It had rained all week, so from home I just put a bunch of waste paper in a plastic freezer bag to keep it dry. (The paper, not the bag.)
- Lay your kindling on top of your tinder, on top of your foundation. (Remember to leave lots of space for oxygen, and start with really small dry kindling. ( Even though all of the wood was a little wet, I was able to find a lot of dry kindling on branches of driftwood that were sticking up in the air. It took some walking. A lot of walking – as I said, get more than you think you need, especially when things are damp.)
- Light your tinder. (See images below)
These images are from Kisakihama.
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There are many different ways to build your fire. Here is another popular way. This doesn’t work so well if the ground is damp, but it’s great if everything is pretty dry.
- Lay down your tinder in the center of the cleared area or pit surrounded by a ring of rocks.
- Arrange kindling on top while leaving gaps – this is often called a teepee fire, because it has that iconic triangular shape. This really helps with the airflow – remember that oxygen is essential to the combustion process.
- Arrange your kindling as suggested above. (Lots is better, but leave some room for the airflow.)
- Light the tinder inside the teepee and gradually add more substantial pieces.
- The key word is gradually so don’t rush! Too much too soon will smother your fire.
- Add larger pieces of wood slowly, and steadily. You want to maintain a steady growth rate and avoid smothering flames.
- If the wood is wet, remember that it’s dry on the inside. Use a good knife to pare off that wet outside stuff, and save the peelings to throw on the fire once it’s really blazing.
Once a satisfactory size is reached get a fire poker to control your fire. A stick that’s about waist height is probably ideal.
Safety Measures
Respect is key. Make sure you always have a bucket or large pot of water in case things get out of hand. (And things can get out of hand much quicker than you can imagine.
Never leave a fire alone — they get so lonely! Seriously. Stay right there and watch it carefully. Don’t get too close. We like to wear special fire gloves which are also useful for hot pots or kettles or the like.
Extinguish your fire completely by pouring lots of water on it until the embers stop hissing. We like to stir it a little, to be sure.
Conclusion
There is truly nothing like sitting around a campfire but always remember that it can always be dangerous. Respect your fire always – and be careful, because burns can be a drag. So keep your distance, but have fun.
We certainly hope to see you out there. We hope this was useful for you, and that it encourages you to enjoy your adventure.
All the best,
Colinloon2
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