Written By: Pleasure-Way
Create Your Fire Bed
The best campfire always starts with safety first (and a designated fire area). Especially when building a campfire in busy National Parks, you definitely want to ensure it is a satisfying and enjoyable fire, not a raging, alarming one. If you’re camping in a more remote area that lacks fire sites, you will need to make your own in a site that is away from bushes, trees, and other plant material. Ideally your fire bed should be made on the bare earth, and not on grass (especially dead grass). If you are struggling to find a bare area, you can make your own by digging and brushing away plant material, as dead grass, bark, and branches can catch fire quite easily.
Gather Your Wood
When gathering wood and branches for a fire, it is important to keep in mind to collect dry wood that breaks or snaps easily. Collect more wood than you think you’ll need – you will go through tinder and kindling wood fast as it burns very quickly. And don’t forget, a fire made with wet wood won’t last long and will produce a lot of smoke.
In order to build the best long-lasting campfire, it is recommended to collect three different types of wood. The first type of wood to collect is called tinder. Tinder catches fire easily and burns fast, leaving this type of wood to be perfect for getting the proper base and initial flame going. Tinder material can be found from dry leaves, dry bark, dry grass, or wood shavings. However, tinder is not viable when the outdoor environment is wet. It is wise to bring your own tinder in the form of a homemade char cloth or even dryer lint.
Kindling is next. Since tinder burns so quickly, you will need something with more impact to keep your fire going. Kindling consists of small twigs and branches, around the width of a pencil. You won’t want to move directly onto big logs after the tinder because this will essentially smother the little flame you have. Try and gather dry twigs and branches to build upon the base of the fire.
Lastly and most importantly, fuel wood. This is the type of wood that keeps you toasty and your fire burning, but it doesn’t have to be the large logs you use in a fireplace. Going too big with the wood can result in a long time waiting for your campfire to produce a consistent flame. Instead, look for branches that are about the width of your wrist or arm.
Build Your Fire
There are multiple different ways to lay your campfire, and each of them prove success. One of the most common ways to lay your fire is through the teepee build. It is exactly as it sounds- you place your bundle of tinder in the middle of your designated campfire area, and then form a teepee with some of the kindling on the tinder. Make sure to leave a small opening on the side the wind is blowing against, to help your campfire get the air it needs. Continue adding kindling to the teepee, working your way up in size until you create a large teepee with the fuel wood around the kindling teepee. Place a match under your tinder, light it, and watch as the flame rises to the kindling then onto the fuel wood, creating a perfect fire.
The other common approach is called the lean-to fire lay- another name that is exactly as it sounds. The first step to preparing the foundation of the fire consists of finding a long piece of kindling, and sticking it firmly into the ground at about a 30-degree angle, with the end of the stick pointing into the wind. Then place the tinder underneath the supported stick in a bundle, placing some kindling around the tinder. Next, lay small pieces of kindling against the piece in the ground, and continue adding another layer with larger pieces of kindling. From here, start by lighting the tinder, and watch the fire burn.
Putting Out Your Fire
Once you’re done enjoying the peacefulness and beauty of a night around the campfire, it is time to put it out thoroughly. You will want to start early as putting out a fire can sometimes take longer than you think. Aim to start putting your fire out close to twenty minutes before you go to bed or plan to leave the area. It is recommended to always have a bucket of water near your campfire for safety reasons, but when it is time to put out the fire it sure comes in handy. As tempting as it is to pour the entire bucket over the flames, you don’t want to totally flood the pit, disabling other campers from making a fire. Instead, sprinkle as much water as you need to ensure the embers and charcoal are no longer engulfed in flames. As you sprinkle the water, use a decent sized stick to stir the embers and ashes, ensuring they all get wet. Once the smoke and the hissing noise decrease, your fire is almost completely extinguished. To make sure your campfire is safe to leave, complete a touch test. Don’t actually touch the burning embers- simply place the back of your hand near the ashes. If they feel too warm, repeat the putting out process. If they are cool, you are good to go!
We hope this blog helps you and your loved ones create many memorable campfire nights ahead.