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Photo by Elaine Skylar Neal / Travels and Curiosities

How to Build a campfire — for beginners

July 7, 2020

Building a campfire seems like it should be a relatively simple task. And for those who have lit their fair share, it probably is. But if you’re a camping novice, or you’ve never built a campfire on your own, it can be downright frustrating not only getting it started but keeping the flames lit and roaring. Not to mention, there are some important safety tips to keep in mind so you don’t start a wildfire.

Pick your campfire spot.

If your campsite has a designated fire pit or ring, follow their lead and use this area. It may even be required. If you’re camping in a dispersed site or wilderness area, you can build your own but be sure to select a spot free of dried grasses and away from any other plant material. Dig if you have to, turning over the earth and creating a bare area. Flatten the spot into a dirt bed at least a few inches thick and surround with rocks.

Gather your fire-building supplies.

You’ll need three main things to start a fire: tinder, kindling, and wood. Tinder is any material that will easily combust. Think dried grasses, cattails, cotton fluff, and paper scraps. You can also consider bringing with you commercial fire starter or a tinder kit. Kindling is the secondary fuel that will catch on fire after the tinder is sparked. Examples of kindling are dried leaves, bark, and twigs. Lastly, you’ll need several logs, which will be the main fuel source for your fire. Larger logs will take longer to catch fire. Start out with some smaller or mid-sized logs and add bigger logs later.

Assemble a teepee with your supplies.

Set your tinder at the center of your chosen campfire site and construct a teepee using kindling surround it. Make sure to leave some open gaps for airflow to reach the tinder. Work in layers, building the teepee with kindling first, then adding logs to the outer teepee structure.

light your tinder

Use a match or lighter or fire starter from your tinder kit to ignite the tinder. The flame should rise up, igniting the kindling. Soon the logs should catch on fire. When the starter logs are full or partially consumed, the teepee structure will fall. At this point, simply add more fuel logs to maintain your fire.

campfire safety

Before planning your camping adventure, check local fire restrictions.

Consider using alternatives to campfires during high winds and dry conditions even if no fire bans are in place.

Keep a bucket or gallon of water nearby.

Keep all fire sources, including portable stoves away from grasses, trash, or anything else that can easily combust.

Start to put our the fire long before you intend to leave it unattended.

Pour water over the coals but don’t flood the bed. Stir the coals, mixing the water into them.

Make sure your fire is completely out when leaving the area. If you can still feel heat emitting from the site even a few inches away, add more water and stir. Make absolute sure the coals are cold before vacating the area, and never leave a fire unattended.

Going camping? Use our Ultimate Car Camping Checklist to prepare for your trip!