How to Build a Camp Fire
- Situate your fire at least 10 feet away from tents, trees, roots and other flammable items if there’s no fire ring available. Clear a space 24 to 32 inches across.
- Don’t make a ring of rocks if one isn’t already there, and don’t build against a boulder or other rocks. This will needlessly char the rocks without adding any significant containment to the fire.
- Gather firewood and kindling if necessary, using only fallen branches. Note that many parks and wilderness areas even forbid gathering fallen material, which plays an important role in the ecosystem.
- Build a small, loose pile of kindling, making sure to allow space for air to feed the fire. Include paper scraps, dry plant matter and other small, flammable items.
- Construct a pyramid of dry twigs and small sticks around and above the kindling pile.
- Light the kindling with a match.
- Add increasingly larger sticks and then logs as the fire grows in strength, always leaving enough space between them for the fire to breathe.
Always have someone watching your campfire – don’t leave it unattended.
Using a gas stove instead of a campfire to cook food in the wilderness is recommended – it’s easier to use, cleaner and better for the environment.
Be sure to familiarize yourself with the fire regulations of the area you’re camping in before starting a fire.
Article courtesy of eHow.com.
