Recently, my son asked me how to start a fire while we were getting ready for a night with the neighbors. I learned how to do this from my Dad and it was time to pass this skill to him. This is a 4-step process to start a fire and an important skill to have at home or in the outdoors.
How to Start a Fire
1. Chose a spot more than 6 feet away from trees, low hanging branches and clear it of grass and leaves so you can line with rocks so the fire does not spread.
2. Make a 4-inch ball of tinder and build a stick and twig teepee around the tinder with an opening on one side.
3. Leaving an opening to light the tinder, stack kindling in a cross-stack pattern and repeat with fuel-wood.
4. Using a wood matches or a lighter hold the flame to the tinder until it starts to burn and gently blow on the lit tinder to help the fire grow. I recommend lighting the tinder in a couple of places to help it burn evenly.
This four-step process will help you light a fire in most situations. There are a number of fire-starting aids that work with the tinder. There another benefit of having a fire besides cooking, heat, and light. It is also important how to put out a fire when leaving the fire pit when finished.
The Fire-starting Process
Location – the reason for picking a place more than 6 feet away from trees, low hanging branches and clear it of grass and leaves is because fire can spread quickly. It is important to control all possible fuel sources to reduce the likelihood of this happening.
Tinder and twig teepee – this is the staring place of your fire. It is important to have small easy to burn materials at the heart of your fire pit. the smaller fuel sources are easy to light and burn fairy quickly helping larger pieces of wood to catch fire.
Stacking kindling – by cross stacking the kindling it allows air to reach your burning tinder and twigs. This will help light the logs you want to burn and keep the fire burning longer.
Lighting the fire – using a wood match or lighter to light the tinder in the heart of your fire pit is the final step. If you light the tinder in a couple places it will burn evenly and increase the fire’s area to consume more wood.
What tinder/fire starter options that work?
While most people will use crumpled newspaper or store-bought fire starters, I use both when we are at home or at a campground. They are great products but if you left them at home there are always other options available.
• My personal favorite is cotton balls soaked in petroleum jelly. They keep well in an airtight container and have helped me on a number of trips.
• Cedar shavings or dry wood you have pulped with a knife. Quickly rub them between your hands to make a tinder fluff ball that lights and burns fast.
• Cattails, pine cones, and birch bark work as well when they are dry.
• Some of my friends recommend a product called Fire Paste and never leave home without it.
• Corn or potato chips – the oil in the chip helps it burn and if you do not need it for a fire, they are great trail snacks.
Twin Oaks Northern Outdoors Pro Tip: Recently, I started replacing the cotton balls with dryer lint. Clear the lint trap from your dryer and the lint balls are a free alternative to using cotton balls. Remember to store them in an airtight container after you soak them in petroleum jelly.
Can a fire help keep mosquitoes or gnats away?
There is an easy way to help keep mosquitoes or gnats away while enjoying time around the fire. By adding herbs to your fire, it can smell amazing to you and drive off those pesky bugs.
Twin Oaks Northern Outdoors Pro Tip: Herbs like citronella, sage, mint, lavender, lemon balm, and rosemary. Toss fresh or dried stalks into your fire to drive those pesky bugs away.
How to put out a campfire?
It is important that fires are completely put out when you are finished with them. Never leave a hot fire unattended. Unattended fire pits that were thought to be extinguished but still had hot spots can smolder and start burning again. Fortunately, there are six steps to extinguishing a fire and can be done water, dirt or sand:
1. Drown the fire with water.
2. Stir the embers once they are covered with water; make sure that everything is wet.
3. Scrape all logs and partially-burned sticks to make sure all the hot embers are off them. Mix the embers with dirt.
4. Check the embers, coals, and any partially-burned wood for heat with your hands. They should be cool to the touch even the rock fire ring. Check under the rocks to make sure no embers underneath.
5. When you think you are done, take an extra minute and add more water, dirt or sand.
6. Lastly, check the entire area for possible embers or sparks, because one is all it takes to start a forest fire.
Twin Oaks Northern Outdoors Pro Tip: If it is too hot to touch, it is too hot to leave.
Campfire Recap
Fire has the ability to provide heat, light, keep bothersome insects away and provides a calming experience after a long day or week. It is important to remember the four steps to build a fire and the six steps to safely put a fire out so it can be left unattended. Practice the skill of building a fire and sit back to enjoy the rewards it can bring. Now have a bonfire, go make some Smores, or enjoy outdoors and have fun.
