THE REALIST
Real Simplifier
How to Build a Campfire U S E T H E S E E A S Y- T O - F O L L O W I N S T R U C T I O N S F O R A ( C O N T R O L L E D ! ) B L A Z E T H AT W I L L M A K E YO U R C R E W H A P P Y C A M P E R S. By Caroline McKenzie
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CHECK CONDITIONS
G AT H E R M AT E R I A L S
FIND A GO OD SP OT
IGNITE THE FL AME
E X T I N G U I S H S A F E LY
Not all days are good campfire days. “Dry vegetation, heat, wind, and thunderstorms increase the chance of a fire getting out of control,” says Deborah Macres, a Girl Scout troop leader and High Adventure Girl Scout leader in Granite Bay, California. “Reviewing conditions beforehand will help you assess dangers and alert you to any current burn bans.” Campgrounds will post information on such bans. But if you’re planning a fire in a less regulated area—or even your own backyard—you can consult the National Weather Service (weather.gov) as well as a local ranger station or land management office. If there’s a warning, skip the fire.
You will need tinder, kindling, and logs, says Brenda Lo-Griffin, a Raleigh, North Carolina– based instructor for REI Outdoor School. Tinder is any thin, dry material that ignites instantly with a match, such as leaves or pine needles. Dryer lint also works well, says Lo-Griffin. Kindling is small sticks (about the size of a pencil) that help a fire expand beyond the initial spark. Finally, logs, which will keep your fire burning over time, should be wood that is no thicker than your wrist, dead, and found on the ground. Never cut live branches—they won’t burn well—or use wood that’s been pressure treated or painted, says Macres.
If your campsite doesn’t have a designated fire pit, seek out a level area away from overhanging branches. The fire base should be three to four inches of sand or nonfertile dirt. Encircle the spot with rocks to help concentrate the flames. Arrange tinder, kindling, and logs in one of two patterns: tepee or log cabin. Tepees begin with kindling in lean-to formation around a ball of tinder. As the flames grow, add larger logs the same way. Log cabins, which many prefer, start with logs arranged in an interlocking perpendicular and parallel design. Place tinder on the first layer and kindling on the next, continuing to build fuel layers with larger logs on the outside of the structure.
Campfires should never be started with gasoline, lighter fluid, or other accelerants, as they can be harmful to the environment and result in flames that quickly escalate to unmanageable levels. Instead, Lo-Griffin suggests a long-handled lighter wand or, better yet, matches. “Ignite tinder and then blow on it to help the fire spread to the kindling,” she says. “Oxygen is key to a fire’s success.” Also, be patient. “It may require 20 to 30 minutes for it to catch, especially if there’s been rain in the past few days,” says Lo-Griffin. “You need to add kindling and logs slowly—don’t rush.”
Putting out a fire can take just as long as starting one. Macres says to expect at least 20 minutes. To extinguish your handiwork, sprinkle water—not dirt or sand—on the fire pit. As you do so, stir the embers with a stick or shovel until the fire is completely extinguished. “Resist the temptation to flood the fire,” says Macres. “It creates instant steam, which can burn people in the vicinity.” When is it safe to leave? When the area—fire ring, wood, embers—is cool to the touch. Until then, continue to sprinkle with water and stir intermittently. If you’re at a campsite, return the rocks to their original location when your fire is finished.
40 RE AL SIMPLE AUGUST 2018
Going camping? Get a handy packing checklist at realsimple .com/campingchecklist.
Illustrations by Amy van Luijk
