Build the Perfect Campfire

Build the Perfect Campfire

Looking for an easy summer trip the whole family will enjoy? Try camping. It’s affordable and flexible, and it provides plenty of opportunities for bonding (ghost stories, anyone?). But before you start your adventure, learn how to enjoy a favorite camping activity: building a campfire.

Learn how to enjoy a fire safely.

  1. Before you begin, check if there are special campfire rules for the area.
  2. Most sites have a fire pit, but if yours doesn't, construct a 2-foot circle out of rocks. It should be at least 10 feet from tents, roots and overhanging branches.
  3. Clear away debris that's near the circle.
  4. Build a small, loose mound of tinder (dry twigs, paper, bark, etc.).
  5. Over the pile, stack kindling (small, dry sticks) into a tepee or pyramid.
  6. Light the tinder with a waterproof match. Keep a bucket of water and shovel nearby in case the fire gets out of hand.
  7. Add larger branches and logs as the fire grows. Be careful not to collapse the walls of the fire.
  8. Extinguish the fire when you're done by carefully pushing the wood apart with a shovel. As the fire dies down, sprinkle it with water and stir the embers with a shovel. Repeat until the wood and embers are cold and stop glowing.
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