BUILDING A CAMPFIRE

Be Prepared

• Debris - Clear area of all debris/avoid area with overhanging branches.

• Fire Ring  Build or create a ring of rocks around the location where you plan to build your fire.

• Extinguishing  Place a bucket of water, shovel and a fire extinguisher nearby and have these items ready to put out your fire.

• Fuel - Gather wood and stack in separate piles away from fire area. Do not use green or freshly cut wood. You will need three types of wood for your fire:

1. Tinder  comprised of small twigs, wood shavings, dry leaves or grass, dry needles, bark or dryer lint. This should start to burn immediately when ignited with a lighted match.

2. Kindling  small sticks one inch in diameter or smaller.

3. Logs  the larger pieces of wood that keep your fire burning.

• Science  For a fire to burn properly, it needs Fuel, Heat and Air.? Failure to provide any one of these three elements, will cause your fire to go out.

• Take your time - Building a quality fire requires patience. Take your time as you construct your fire.

Instructions

• Begin with small handfuls of tinder loosely piled in the center of your fire ring.

• Place your back to the oncoming wind. Cup your hand around a match and strike the match. Carefully lower the lighted match to the tinder to ignite. Discard the used match into the burning tinder.

• Carefully add more tinder.

• If required, blow softly at the base of the tinder.

• Once the tinder is fully burning, carefully begin to add kindling to the fire.

• Add more kindling if needed.

• Once the fire is burning strongly, begin to add logs or larger pieces of wood, one at a time, to the fire.

Type of Fires

• Teepee fire  A teepee fire is good for quick cooking since the heat is concentrated in one spot. Lay the fuel over your kindling like a tepee.

• Crisscross fire  A good choice for a long-lasting fire with a lot of coals. It is excellent for a campfire. Lay the fuel over the kindling in a crisscross pattern.

Fire Safety

• Never build a fire near a tent.

• Never build a fire near ANY FLAMMABLE ITEMS.

• Never leave a fire unattended.

• Build a fire only as big as you need.

• Once you have finished with your fire, make sure to extinguish it completely:

Sprinkle with the fire with water.

Stir fire with a non-flammable item, looking for hotspots.

 Sprinkle with more water.

Drench charred logs with water.

 Look for embers. Extinguish with water.

Repeat until the fire is completed and positively extinguished ? it should feel cold.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION RESOURCES

To learn more about fire prevention and additional safety tips, please visit the SmokeyBear.com website.