How to Start a Fire
Learn to make a perfect fire while backpacking
In almost any hiking, backpacking, or camping survival situation, a fire is needed. Whether it is used as a heat source during cold nights or to cook your food, you should become acquainted with starting fires. Learn how to build and keep a fire going with matches and other methods.
Preparation
If you plan to build a campfire, be sure that the area you are hiking in allows fires and if they are required to be built in developed fire pits. Before beginning to build your fire, be sure there is a proper fire pit. If there isn't one already, build a small fire ring with rocks. To prevent wind from blowing your fire out, create a depression in the ground 3 to 6 inches deep inside the fire ring.
Search the area for any dry tinder, including shredded bark, dry fungus and mosses from dead trees and logs, and dry grass. Next, find dry kindling. Gather sticks and twigs that are small enough to break easily. Use the driest material and make sure it is finely shredded to start the fire easily. You can use a knife to cut the wood into more combustible pieces. Dry kindling should be smaller than 1/4-inch in diameter and not longer than 6 inches. After, get larger logs that will be used to keep your fire going. Logs should be broken into pieces no more than 4 inches in diameter and 16 inches long. If the logs break easily, then they are dry enough to use.
Building Your Fire
There are two popular methods of building a fire, the teepee and log cabin. Although the teepee is the most effective, some prefer the latter. To build your teepee, wad the tinder into a ball about 4 inches in diameter and put it in the middle of your fire pit. Stack the kindling into a cone around it, then lean the logs on the kindling.
If matches or a lighter are used, leave an opening in the teepee so you can light the pile of tinder from the bottom. For other methods of starting fires, see the next section below. If the tinder lights, it will spread to the kindling and logs and give you a great campfire. Blowing softly on the fire might be necessary to create flames to spread to the kindling and logs. If the fire goes out, try adding more tinder or kindling. Your burning materials might also be to wet to burn.
Once your fire is going, keep adding logs in the teepee pattern. Be sure to keep your fire to a reasonable and safe size. Be sure to never build your fire near vegetation, low-hanging branches, or closer than 6 feet from your shelter.
Other Methods
Even if you find yourself without matches while hiking or backpacking, there are plenty of ways to start a fire without them. Below are a few of the most common methods of starting a fire. Check out our Additional Resources for more fire-starting methods.
- Flint and steel: First, take a a hold of the flint between your thumb and forefinger, with plenty of room to strike it without self-injury. Grasp the char between your thumb and the flint. Next, strike the flint with the back of the steel striker several times and sparks should fly and land on your char, which should begin to glow. Once your char is smoldering you can fold it up into your tinder and blow gently to start a full flame.
- Lenses (magnifying glass or eyeglasses): If it is a sunny day, angle your lens toward the sun. Put your tinder ball under the lens as you concentrate the light into the smallest area possible. If you add water to the lens you will be able to intensify the beam.
- Steel wool and batteries: With a nine-volt battery and a strip of steel wool, simply touch the contacts of the battery to the wool. Blow on it gently to encourage flames, and add it to your tinder.
Additional Resources
- The Art of Manliness - 9 Ways To Start a Fire Without Matches
