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Tips to help you build a fire

Use these four simple steps to build you build a fire at your next campout.

Step 1: The Right Spot

fire-place

Clear the area of debris, avoid overhanging branches and make sure your fire is a safe distance from tents and other flammable materials. One option is to build your fire on an earthen pad like this one, but make sure to do it in a way that leaves no trace when you’re done.

Step 2: The Right Material

fire-material

The three types of natural fuel are tinder (material that burns easily such as dry grass or shavings whittled from a stick), kindling (slightly larger material such as twigs that will burn with a little encouragement) and firewood (dry branches that will be the main fuel of the fire). No shortcuts allowed — never use flammable liquids.

Step 3: The Right Shape

fire-shape

Two ways to build your fire are the tepee, in which you arrange the kindling in the shape of a tepee over the tinder, and the lean-to, in which you push a small stick in the ground at a 45-degree angle with the upper end pointing into the wind. Place the tinder beneath the stick and lean the kindling against it. Light the tinder and add kindling as needed. Add the larger branched last. Never leave a fire unattended.

Step 4: Put It Out, Way Out

fire-out

Pour water on the fire, stir the ashes with a stick, pour some more. It’s not out until you can run your bare hands through the coals.

10 Comments on Tips to help you build a fire

  1. I think that your tips are really helpful, keep on truckin

  2. cool

  3. log cabins are the best because the tinder and the kinling get enough air, but not enough to blow it out. easy to care for

  4. True, a log cabin fire is great but only once you get a fire going good and strong.

  5. shooter470, that pretty much is true but pine needles make to much smoke

  6. Ya no that advice works great but I got in trouble because the fire was in my backyard 8o()

  7. I Think that log cabins are the best because: Exellent air flow, tinder and kindling are in the middle to ignite the firewood. Use lots of pine needles while using any fire: Ignites quickly and burns hot. 2 other materials that help fires 1 ratsnest 2 charcloth

  8. good advice thanks

  9. ertyuiop[' // July 8, 2007 at 11:09 am // Reply

    I learned a lot

  10. Just some tips guys:

    When making your fire (remember to have earned your Fireman Chit), down here in Florida, we use starter, not kindling. Our types are Starter, Tinder, and Firewood. Starter usually consists of Pawn Frawn, amd the rest is described up there. BUT WHATEVER YOU DO, DO NOT PUT IN SPANISH MOSS! It just makes a smoky mess. My first time on making a fire to Fireman Chit, I kept putting starter in it because it kept dying off. You can do that but after a while you need to stop and put DRY Tinder in it, then Firewood.

    Alex

    Troop 334, Florida

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