How to Build a Campfire

Warmth is essential to human life. Whether to survive, or just to roast marshmallows, a campfire is a wonderful thing. You can build one in just a few minutes, and it can sustain life or entertain friends.

The first thing you need to do is make a safe place for your fire. Make a fire ring of rocks or bricks in an area without overhanging branches. Be sure to have water on hand in case the fire goes out of control. One small spark can create an disastrous wildfire. After making sure you have a safe place you can begin building.

In order to make a campfire, you will need to collect tinder, kindling, and fuel. The tinder is any small, combustible material to get the flame going. Kindling is slightly larger and is for catching your fuel on fire. Fuel is just about anything that will burn well. It is important that you find dry wood or you will have a much harder time to get your campfire going.

The easiest way to build a campfire is to place two logs parallel to each other, then stack two more across like shown in the picture. Keep doing this till you get a good height, then pile your tinder inside and lean the larger of the kindling and smaller fuel in a teepee shape on the inside. I did not get enough tinder at first in the one for the pictures, so make sure you have it all around the inside of the log square.

I find it easiest to put some drier lint in near the bottom of the structure along with whatever other tinder you have, and you can light it with matches, flint and steel, or whatever is your favorite method. Once you have a good fire going you can sit back and enjoy the warmth.

When you've enjoyed your campfire and are ready to put it out, simply drizzle water on it until it stops smoking and steaming and all the white or red places have turned black. Also, it is good to stir the ashes and add more water just to be safe.