How to Build a Campfire

For many it’s not campfire cooking unless cooked over a campfire.  To build a fire, first you need to clear an area of any vegetation.

Create a ring around this area with rocks, choosing rocks of a reasonable size to contain the fire.

Make sure to keep a shovel and if possible a bucket of water beside your fire at all times.

Gather pine needles, dry moss, small sticks and larger pieces of wood.   Everything must be dry, with no green.

Starting with the pine needles, small twigs or dried moss and place in a pile.    Light the tinder with a match, adding more tinder as need to keep the flame going.  Start placing a couple of small sticks on the tinder until you build up a good fire.  Once you’ve built up a good fire, you can begin to add the larger pieces of wood.

Make sure you put your fire completely out before retiring for the evening by completely soaking the campfire and ashes until it is cold to the touch.  If you don’t have water then use dirt and stir the ashes with the dirt, again until it’s cold to the touch.

Before starting a fire, be sure to check and make sure the fire danger level is low and that it is ok to start a campfire in the area you are camping in.

For more information on campfire safety check the smokey the bear website
photo credit: OakleyOriginals.