Outdoors

Tips to help you build a fire

By Rich Haddaway
Illustrations by Grant Miehm
From the January 2004 Boys' Life magazine

Use these simple steps to build a fire at your next campout.

1. The Right Spot

Clear the area of debris, avoid overhanging branches and make sure your fire is a safe distance from tents and other flammable materials. Build your fire on an earthen pad like this one.

2. The Right Material

The three types of natural fuel are tinder (material that burns easily such as dry grass or shavings whittled from a stick), kindling (slightly larger material such as twigs that will burn with a little encouragement) and firewood (dry branches that will be the main fuel of the fire). No shortcuts allowed—never use flammable liquids.

3. The Right Shape

Two ways to build your fire are the tepee, in which you arrange the kindling in the shape of a tepee over the tinder, and the lean-to, in which you push a small stick in the ground at a 45-degree angle with the upper end pointing into the wind. Place the tinder beneath the stick and lean the kindling against it. Light the tinder and add kindling as needed. Add the larger branched last. Never leave a fire unattended.

4. Put It Out Way Out

Pour water on the fire, stir the ashes with a stick, pour some more. It’s not out until you can run your bare hands through the coals.

Read 25 comments about “Tips to help you build a fire”

Comment page:   « 3 2 [1]

1. 5 - Static9 says:
   June 17th, 2007 at 5:29 pm

   Thanks for the advice, guys!

2. 4 - Gothmog says:
   June 7th, 2007 at 5:26 pm

   really good instructions
   really it doesn’t help you build better fires though, just how to build a fire

3. 3 - dhappjr says:
   June 2nd, 2007 at 9:59 am

   their should be the log cabin

4. 2 - Jay says:
   May 29th, 2007 at 6:08 pm

   I can’t wait to go to camp and try out your suggestions.

5. 1 - rkid says:
   May 26th, 2007 at 7:02 pm

   it helps

Comment page:   « 3 2 [1]

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