Use Hacks to Help You Start a Fire and Keep It Going
Create a Spot for Your Campfire
Pick the Perfect Tinder (and Keep It Dry)
Remember to Use Kindling
Tinder starts a fire, but before you can get the big logs to flame, you’ll need kindling. Use small sticks or split logs to help the fire establish itself after the quick-burning tinder is gone. Dry sticks about the diameter of your finger are best for kindling. You can also use a kindling splitter to create smaller pieces from a large chunk of firewood.
Use the Best Firewood You Can Find
Choose Your Campfire Type
There are several types of campfires you can build, and each has advantages and disadvantages. The teepee style is one of the easiest to build, and it involves stacking the wood in a pyramid and placing tinder and kindling inside. A log cabin fire is another great design that allows lots of air to flow between the logs. No matter what style you choose, having a plan makes it easier to light the fire and keep it going.
Start Small When Lighting a Campfire
Know How to Start a Campfire Without Matches
You should always have matches in your camping supplies, but sometimes, you forget or lose them. Knowing how to start a fire without matches is an important wilderness survival skill. Use a flint and steel or a lens placed in direct sunlight if you have these items handy. If not, make a tinder “nest” and spin a dry stick in a notch in another piece of wood. It can take some time, but eventually, the friction can cause enough heat to start the fire.
Feed Your Fire to Keep It Going
Keep Campfire Smoke Out of Your Face
No one likes to sit in the smoke, and it can seem like the way the smoke goes is random sometimes. However, there are some hacks to help keep the smoke under control. Use very dry wood and make sure the fire has plenty of oxygen to minimize the smoke. Then, place a large rock against one side of the firepit to help control the way the smoke blows. Finally, think about the direction of the wind and use windbreaks to control it.
Put the Fire Out When You’re Done
When you’re done enjoying your campfire, it’s important to put it out thoroughly. It can take some time to extinguish a campfire completely; plan for it to take about 20 minutes. Allow it to burn down as your evening ends. When you’re ready, dump lots of water over the embers. Use a stick or shovel to stir them and then dump more water. The fire is out when it is no longer hot or smoking.
Enjoy a Well-Made Fire
Once you know how to make a fire and have some campfire tricks for keeping it going, you can sit back and relax in front of a cozy blaze. Share a meal cooked over the campfire or tell some funny campfire stories as you enjoy the warmth and the memories you create.
