How to Start a Campfire

Do you know how to start a campfire?  If you don't, can we really consider you a "real camper"?  Learn the basics of starting a camp fire.

Title: Start a Campfire

You can't call youself a camper without knowing how to start a campfire. A campfire is needed to keep yourself warm on the cold nights as well as early mornings. A campfire is needed to light up the site when the sun has set. A campfire is needed to roast your marshmallows and hotdogs. Heck, a campfire is needed for the experience to be a true camping trip. Luckily, starting a campfire is pretty easy and becomes second nature after a few cracks at it.

Before starting any campfire, make sure that campfires are permitted at your campground. Most likely, they are. Gather wood for the campfire. Be sure to collect everything from twigs and dry leaves to small sticks and branches up to 2-4 inches long.  If a fire ring is not available at your campsite, clear an area away from any trees or brush. Setting up a perimeter of rocks will help contain the campfire debris. 

Set a small pile of the dry leaves and twigs in your fire ring. Place the small sticks directly on top of the pile of twigs and leaves. Set it up so the small sticks form a teepee around the pile. Build a square wall of larger sticks around the tepee of smaller sticks.  Throw a lit match into the pile of leaves and twigs. Follow up with another match until the pile catches fire.  As your campfire grows, add larger branches across the top. Be careful not to collapse the wall of the fire.  Continue to add larger branches and pieces of wood to keep the campfire going.

Make sure to start your campfire away from things that can catch fire such as tents, trees, and bushes. Try to avoid building a fire on windy days. If you must build one, make it as small as possible and give yourself extra space from flammables.

Never use flammable fluids to start a campfire such as kerosene or butane.  A fire should never be left unattended  Only build a fire as big as you need it.  Make sure your fire is completely extinguished at the end: Sprinkle with water. Stir with a stick. Repeat until out cold.

Now that you know how to start a fire and practice it's safe use. Enjoy your camping experience and stay warm!

Don't miss John Dee's article on <a xhref="http://www.bornwild.info/camp07.php" title="Camping with
Toddlers">Camping with Toddlers</a></p>

About the author:
John Dee also writes articles in other subjects such as <a
xhref="http://www.bornwild.info" title="Camping, Hunting and
Fishing advice">Fishing</a>, <a xhref="http://www.perdiem.info"
title="Keeping you Healthy, One Day at a Time">Weight Loss</a>
and <a xhref="http://www.webtrendy.info" title="Web Design as a
Digital Art">Web Design</a>

And… Welcome to the elite group of "real campers".