12/07/2021 / By Divina Ramirez
Firestarting is an important survival skill to learn and master, especially if you go camping often or if you have plans to bug out when SHTF. Knowing how to build a fire means you can stay warm, cook food, boil water and have a source of light wherever you are, even in times of disaster.
To start a fire, you need oxygen, heat and fuel. Oxygen is readily available, but how much of it is available may affect how quickly you can get your fire going. Heat can come from matches, a lighter, friction or a chemical reaction. Fuel starts your firebase and keeps it going. It is broken down into three categories:
Once you have all three requirements, prepare to start a fire. Start by igniting your tinder. Add kindling slowly to avoid snuffing out the fire. Once you have a hot base of embers, place the fuel around and above the fire.
Below are six types of campfires that you can build to stay warm or cook while outdoors.
1. Tepee fire
As far as campfires go, this is the easiest one to build. It is conical in shape and resembles Native American tepees, hence its name. Its main drawback is that it doesn’t burn as long as other fires.
Here’s how to build a tepee fire:
2. Canadian candle
The Canadian candle is a contained fire that’s perfect for cooking. It is less of a fire hazard than other campfires, and it burns for long periods. However, it takes longer to set up. You will also need a large log and some tools.
Here’s how to build it:
The embers from the fire on top of the log should fall down inside the log and light up the kindling there. After a short while, the log itself will catch fire and burn steadily.
3. Top-down fire
This campfire is low-maintenance and ideal for winter. Here’s how to build it:
4. Log cabin fire
This is the best fire to build if you need to stay warm but don’t want to keep stoking the flames. Here’s how to build it:
5. Star fire
The star fire burns a few logs bit by bit to keep the fire going for as long as possible without requiring more wood. Here’s how to build it:
6. Lean-to fire
The lean-to fire is a wind-resistant fire that’s perfect for when you’re camping in harsh weather. However, it tends to burn out quickly. Here’s how to build a lean-to fire:
Be mindful of your surroundings when building a campfire and never start one you can’t control. Extinguish it properly when you’re done with it.
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