Campfire Construction 101
02-08-2016
Author: in RV Tips & Education
There is just something about a nice campfire, whether you are cooking food on it, staying warm, scaring off various wild animals in the area, or just sitting around it enjoying the company of a few good friends. Knowing how to build a campfire is one of the most fundamental outdoor skills and at the heart of just about any survival scenario.
Safety first.
In those infinitely wise words of Smokey the Bear, “Only YOU can prevent forest fires.” He’s right, you know. Let’s start with a few statistics to sober you up a bit.
According to the National Interagency Fire Center, humans are pretty destructive creatures. According to data collected from 2001 through 2015, humans:
What you need to build a campfire.
The three basic elements of your campfire are:
A word about wood.
You need dry wood if you want to get your fire started. If the weather is accommodating you can pick up some dry twigs and leaves off of the ground. Bad weather requires a bit more finesse and work, but it’s doable. Standing dead trees or branches will have dry wood inside. You’ll need to chop them into smaller lengths that you can use so a saw, an axe, or even a large knife will definitely come in handy.
Dry wood is always easier to work with. If you have large logs with wet bark, that isn’t going to light and burn easily. Splitting the logs into fourth makes them more manageable lengthwise and exposes the dryer center to the flames.
Fat wood, or fat lighter can be a good way to start your campfire when the weather is not cooperating. Fat wood is simply pine wood that is full of resin. Shave some off of a pine tree stump and you have some very useful material that is effective as both tinder and kindling.
Green wood doesn’t burn well at all which makes it a great choice for devising a spit or a platform for holding cookware.
Tinder
Tinder is the flammable, dry stuff that is used to light a fire. Its primary characteristic is that it is easily ignited with even a small spark. Types of tinder include:
Once the flame is present, kindling will keep it going so that it will ignite the fuel portion of your campfire – the wood. This means that you want to have plenty on hand. Examples of kindling include:
Despite how they may appear, campfires are actually layered. The first layer is the tinder, then the kindling, then the wood is arranged over that according to the type of campfire structure you are looking to achieve. It is a fairly simple three step method:
Here are some basic campfire types.
The tipi method
This is the easiest campfire to build. Position your wood in a tent fashion, standing the pieces on end with the top ends leaning against each other and the bottom ends spread apart so that it looks like a pyramid. Your tinder is at the center, as is your kindling (and it is in the same shape).
This campfire structure allows air to fuel the flames so your fire can keep burning. You can build a small campfire or scale it up to a huge bonfire. It is very versatile.
The log cabin.
This type of campfire is built in a crisscross fashion, keeping a nice space between the logs. Your tinder and kindling are on the bottom. This type of campfire is very low maintenance and burns for a long time.
Place your thickest logs on the bottom and crisscross them, meaning two or three on the bottom going one way, then two or three slightly smaller logs stacked on top perpendicular to the ones below. Go three or four layers for a campfire or many more layers for something larger.
The platform
This is much like the log cabin, but the logs are close together. It is a good campfire for cooking. You typically place your tinder and kindling on top to get this one started, although some people do place it inside (but it is a little hard to reach that way).
Place your logs in a crisscross fashion, keeping the logs close together. Build it as high as you want it, then light your tinder on top, making sure you have ample kindling.
Working with fire.
When working with a campfire, it is safest to build it in a fire pit or ring. You can dig a hole and build your fire inside then use the dirt to cover it when you leave. Be careful how you discard your matches or whatever you use to start your fire, especially in high fire level areas.
When lighting your fire, make sure to have plenty of kindling, adding it as the fire grows and blow gently on the base of the fire. This gives it extra fuel to ignite. Watch your fire and keep it under control at all times, using the proper extinguishing techniques when you are finished.
Think of your campfire as a toddler or puppy. You really can’t afford to turn your attention away for a minute because that’s when you get into trouble. Be aware, be vigilant, be safe, and happy camping.
Safety first.
In those infinitely wise words of Smokey the Bear, “Only YOU can prevent forest fires.” He’s right, you know. Let’s start with a few statistics to sober you up a bit.
According to the National Interagency Fire Center, humans are pretty destructive creatures. According to data collected from 2001 through 2015, humans:
- Cause an average of 61,913 fires a year
- Are responsible for burning more than 2.4 million acres a year due to forest fires.
What you need to build a campfire.
The three basic elements of your campfire are:
- Tinder – the stuff that gets your fire started such as dry grass or leaves, small twigs, dry pine needles, or other stuff I’ll talk about in a bit
- Kindling – the stuff that get your fire going, uniting it with the fuel usually very small sticks no larger than 1” in circumference
- Fuel – the stuff that keeps your fire going, typically larger pieces of wood
A word about wood.
You need dry wood if you want to get your fire started. If the weather is accommodating you can pick up some dry twigs and leaves off of the ground. Bad weather requires a bit more finesse and work, but it’s doable. Standing dead trees or branches will have dry wood inside. You’ll need to chop them into smaller lengths that you can use so a saw, an axe, or even a large knife will definitely come in handy.
Dry wood is always easier to work with. If you have large logs with wet bark, that isn’t going to light and burn easily. Splitting the logs into fourth makes them more manageable lengthwise and exposes the dryer center to the flames.
Fat wood, or fat lighter can be a good way to start your campfire when the weather is not cooperating. Fat wood is simply pine wood that is full of resin. Shave some off of a pine tree stump and you have some very useful material that is effective as both tinder and kindling.
Green wood doesn’t burn well at all which makes it a great choice for devising a spit or a platform for holding cookware.
Tinder
Tinder is the flammable, dry stuff that is used to light a fire. Its primary characteristic is that it is easily ignited with even a small spark. Types of tinder include:
- Real cotton balls
- Vaseline coated cotton balls (pull them apart and light the inside)
- Mouse or bird nest
- Dry grass
- Birch tree bark
- Cattail fluff
Once the flame is present, kindling will keep it going so that it will ignite the fuel portion of your campfire – the wood. This means that you want to have plenty on hand. Examples of kindling include:
- Dry leaves
- Cedar bark
- Small twigs
Despite how they may appear, campfires are actually layered. The first layer is the tinder, then the kindling, then the wood is arranged over that according to the type of campfire structure you are looking to achieve. It is a fairly simple three step method:
- Pile a few handfuls of your tinder in the center of where your fire will be. Don’t pack it, keep it loose so air can get to it.
- Add your kindling over the tinder like a tipi (sticks stand on end forming the shape of a pyramid or a tent), a cross, or stacked.
- Add your wood in whatever arrangement you like.
Here are some basic campfire types.
The tipi method
This is the easiest campfire to build. Position your wood in a tent fashion, standing the pieces on end with the top ends leaning against each other and the bottom ends spread apart so that it looks like a pyramid. Your tinder is at the center, as is your kindling (and it is in the same shape).
This campfire structure allows air to fuel the flames so your fire can keep burning. You can build a small campfire or scale it up to a huge bonfire. It is very versatile.
The log cabin.
This type of campfire is built in a crisscross fashion, keeping a nice space between the logs. Your tinder and kindling are on the bottom. This type of campfire is very low maintenance and burns for a long time.
Place your thickest logs on the bottom and crisscross them, meaning two or three on the bottom going one way, then two or three slightly smaller logs stacked on top perpendicular to the ones below. Go three or four layers for a campfire or many more layers for something larger.
The platform
This is much like the log cabin, but the logs are close together. It is a good campfire for cooking. You typically place your tinder and kindling on top to get this one started, although some people do place it inside (but it is a little hard to reach that way).
Place your logs in a crisscross fashion, keeping the logs close together. Build it as high as you want it, then light your tinder on top, making sure you have ample kindling.
Working with fire.
When working with a campfire, it is safest to build it in a fire pit or ring. You can dig a hole and build your fire inside then use the dirt to cover it when you leave. Be careful how you discard your matches or whatever you use to start your fire, especially in high fire level areas.
When lighting your fire, make sure to have plenty of kindling, adding it as the fire grows and blow gently on the base of the fire. This gives it extra fuel to ignite. Watch your fire and keep it under control at all times, using the proper extinguishing techniques when you are finished.
Think of your campfire as a toddler or puppy. You really can’t afford to turn your attention away for a minute because that’s when you get into trouble. Be aware, be vigilant, be safe, and happy camping.
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Author: Stephanie A. Mayberry
