Outdoors
Tips to help you build a fire
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”
September 10th, 2007 at 7:56 pm
Ya no that advice works great but I got in trouble because the fire was in my backyard 8o()
August 12th, 2007 at 2:57 pm
I Think that log cabins are the best because: Exellent air flow, tinder and kindling are in the middle to ignite the firewood. Use lots of pine needles while using any fire: Ignites quickly and burns hot. 2 other materials that help fires 1 ratsnest 2 charcloth
July 19th, 2007 at 6:23 am
good advice thanks
July 8th, 2007 at 11:09 am
I learned a lot
July 3rd, 2007 at 9:46 pm
Just some tips guys:
When making your fire (remember to have earned your Fireman Chit), down here in Florida, we use starter, not kindling. Our types are Starter, Tinder, and Firewood. Starter usually consists of Pawn Frawn, amd the rest is described up there. BUT WHATEVER YOU DO, DO NOT PUT IN SPANISH MOSS! It just makes a smoky mess. My first time on making a fire to Fireman Chit, I kept putting starter in it because it kept dying off. You can do that but after a while you need to stop and put DRY Tinder in it, then Firewood.
Alex
Troop 334, Florida
June 30th, 2007 at 8:38 pm
but how do u get the fire started
June 27th, 2007 at 3:40 pm
u can get flint buy taking apart an emty lighter.its the thing under the round pece.it looks like a pencil tip.same size.but it workz
June 27th, 2007 at 3:38 pm
u can also usu a rock called flint
June 27th, 2007 at 3:37 pm
u can also use flint
June 23rd, 2007 at 9:35 pm
you should denfinetly try a log cabin.