Fire building basics

• Author: DigitalMind
• Filed under: Camping
• Date: Sep 23,2008

Starting a fire and keeping it going is something that lots of people take for granted.  However, it is a very useful thing to be able to have when you need it .  You can use it to cook food, to keep you warm, to scare off animals, to give you light, and to bring up your spirits. This article is about the very basics of building a fire, and will link to more advanced methods such as using a magnesium flint tool and making charcloth to help start a fire with only a single spark !

Step 1 :

Pick the spot where you will build your fire.  Keep it away from branches and any flammable objects.  Using rocks atleast 4 inches in diameter make a circle that will hold in the fire. (The size of the circle depends on the size of the fire you plan on making)  This will contain your fire and help stop HOT ambers and coals from blowing into the forest when there is a strong wind.  It will also make a visible line of where NOT to walk.

Step 2 :

Collect wood.

Tinder : This can be shredded paper, wood shavings, birch bark, or anything else that catches on fire easily.The tinder is used to light the kindling.

Kindling : Small, dry branches, no more than 1.5 inches thick.  (it’s nice to have an assortment that goes from tiny twigs to 1.5 inch thich pieces of wood. Once you’ve burned enough kindling you will have enough heat and ambers to light bigger logs.

Logs : Big pieces of wood.  Once the fire is going and has a small bed of ambers at the bottom, you can start putting in logs and stop putting in kindling.  Logs will only light if there is enough direct heat and flames on it, however they will burn for a LONG time compared to the tinder or kindling.  If you’ve neglected your fire and it’s almost out, chances are you will need to build it up again with some kindling before adding more logs. Logs are often hard to get if you’re out in the forest and don’t have an Axe or saw.

Misc : Keeping a fire going takes LOTS of wood.  Gather the wood you think you will need for the night, then double it.

Step 3 :

So you now have a fire pit, and wood for the fire.  It’s time to get it ready to be lit.

I like to use the “teepee” style of fire.

Basically, you put your tinder in the middle of the fire pit.

Then you put some kindling all around the tinder in the form of a tee-pee. (Or a cone if you prefer) all around it except for one side that you want to keep open so that you can easily light the tinder.

If you have enough tinder and kindling, you can even go as far as adding a couple of logs on top of your tee-pee (or cone) which should light once the flames and heat are strong enough. (However I like to add the logs after) It’s important when building your tee-pee fire that there is proper air ventilation right to the middle of the teepee where the tinder is.  Fire needs air, and will not stay lit otherwise, so don’t go nuts when placing your kindling and logs and make sure you’re letting air through.

Step 4 :

It’s time to light it !

Hopefully you have some waterproof matches or a lighter.  If so, simply light the tinder and the fire should get going !  Add wood as needed.

If you don’t have matches or a lighter, lets hope you’ve read these articles : (And that I’ve finished writing them) :

Starting a fire with Magnesium and Flint (Click here to BUY a magnesium flint block for under $10)

Using charcloth and flint to start a fire

Start a fire using the old fashioned bow method.  (Rubbing sticks together, basically)

Stay tuned for more, and feel free to send requests in the comments section of this post !