Tips On Starting A Campfire
March 2, 2008
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How is it that one careless match can start a forest fire, but it takes a whole box to start a campfire? ~Author Unknown |
Sometimes it seems so easy to get a campfire going and other times not even a full box of matches can get the job done. Here are some tips on starting a campfire.
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Paper:
If you asked five different people, you would probably get five different answers on what is the best way crumple, rip, fold or tear your paper when starting a camp fire. Each way may have it’s own pros and cons, but here are the two ways that I have found that work the best.
Newspaper works the best and is usually readily available around the house. Take a sheet of the newspaper and tear it in half. If it’s a larger piece tear it into 3 or 4 pieces.
Lightly crumple each piece into small round balls about the size of a baseball. Use these crumpled pieces of paper and build a small pyramid shaped pile in the center of your campfire pit.
Another way that works very well is to take the newspaper and tear several pieces at the same time into strips about one inch wide. Take these strips and criss-cross them to make a pile in the center of the campfire pit.
Kindling:
If you can, pick up a bundle or two of dry kindling on your way to the campground. If you find yourself without any kindling you can go around and gather up some small twigs and branches that have fallen on the ground as these will also work well as kindling.
Starting on the outside of the paper start stacking the kindling starting with two pieces on either side and then placing two more pieces on top of the first two above and below the paper. This will allow air to flow through the kindling and allow the paper to burn.
Once you have the kindling at the same height as the paper start stacking more kindling over the top of the paper criss-crossing them to make a roof like structure.
Fire:
You didn’t think we were going to forget the most important part, did you? 
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I always make sure that I have several propane lighters on hand as these work really well for starting your campfire and other propane devices as well.
After you get the fire going, keep placing kindling and smaller pieces of wood onto the fire until you have a good bed of hot colas.
It’s now up to you how big you want your fire to be. 
Happy Camping
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You didn’t mention what to do if your fire wood is damp.
One thing which I always have packed up to go with me on a camping trip is a can of charcoal lighter fluid. In the event my supply of wood has been rained on, a little lighter fluid works wonders. Just use enough to get the fire started.
While we’re on the subject of fire wood, if your camping trip entails crossing state lines, you may want to do some research on transporting wood from one state to another. Particularly Ohio and Michigan, due to the Emerald Ash Borer. The states are trying to reduce the spread of this harmful insect.
Enjoy your camping trip. If you’re new to this past time, due yourself a favor and do as much research as you can. It will pay off in the long run.
The question is whether or not it is appropiate to light a fire. One view is that hike stoves should be carried into the wilderness and used instead, because they leave behind fewer traces of our presence. On the other hand back-to-nature campers say that sitting by a campfire brings them closer to nature in a spiritual way that is impossible with hike stoves. I think it depends on where you are. It is certainly true that there are areas where use of a campfire is innappropiate i.e. places where it may trigger a forest fire where fuel is not sufficiently plentiful, or where fires have never been lit before. In these regions a hike stove is the sensible option as it safeguards the environment. I think we should aim to travel through the landscape like a shadow, leaving as little trace of yourself and your activities as possible, and to use either a campfire or a stove depending on your location and circumstances.
Paper is OK, but I use dryer lint and used dryer sheets. I keep a bag next to the dryer and it catches quick, and burns longer than paper. Also a magnesium stick and a pocket knife works great along side the dryer “fuel”. Scrape a little magnesium flakes into the center of the lint and just a few sparks with the pocket knife and instant fire.