Building Fires and Fire
Safety
Outdoor Pursuits 110
Identifying and selecting
firewood
1. The selection of firewood is generally a function
of availability. Use what is legally available. In
most regions of the country, there isn’t a lot of
choice. Ideally, one would select firewood based
on the following considerations.
a. Softwood (eg. Pine, spruce and cedar) are
convenient for use as tinder and kindling. They
ignite readily and burn hot.
b. Hardwood (eg. Maple, yellow birch, beach) are
excellent for obtaining hot long lasting coals,
providing a steady temperature for cooking and
baking.
Identifying and selecting
firewood
2. It has been determined that fires will only be used
when a there is ample supply of firewood on the
ground and the wood burned will be naturally
replenished in a reasonable time.
3. Firewood selection should be based on the following
considerations.
a. Only pick wood that is already down. Remember …”rules
are for fool:. In rainy weather, when fires are necessary
one might pick the fine dead tinder which is still attached
in the undergrowth of a conifer.
b. Collect enough wood to maintain the fire.
c. Collect wood of different sizes and stack the wood
according to size. This provides convenient access to
wood as the fire is started.
The three common components of
fire
There must be a balance of fuel, heat and
oxygen to have a successful fire. When
having difficulty starting a fire, it is often
helpful to think of which component is out
of balance and try to establish the proper
balance.
The three common components of
fire
1. Fuel: Wood provides the fuel in campfires. The
key is to have the correct size fuel for the
amount of heat available. (You can’t light a 4
inch round stick of wood with a match.)
2. Heat: Heat ignites the fuel and must be
balanced with it. Large fuel will not ignite until
the heat of the fire rises to a suitable
temperature to thoroughly heat the wood. There
is usually water vapor close to the ground. The
fire should be ignited a few inches above ground
level.
3. Oxygen: there must be room for oxygen. Allow
for ample air circulation and arrange the fuel so
that oxygen can get to the fire.
Materials needed in Fire
construction
1.Tinder
a. Fine, flammable material which will ignite
from the heat of a match.
b. Birch bark (collected from the ground),
pine pitch or spruce pitch, and fine
twigs.
c. If the group must depend on fires it is
important to have a plastic bag of these
materials for a rainy day.
Materials needed in Fire
construction
2. Kindling
a. Small diameter branches (3/4” or less)
or split wood which will ignite from the
tinder
b. Softwood such as pine, spruce and cedar
are very suitable for kindling.
Materials needed in Fire
construction
3.Fuel
a. Firewood which provides coals and
uniform heat for cooking.
b. Hardwoods such as maple, hickory and
apple do an admirable job of providing
good coals for cooking.
Laying the fire
There are several methods for laying a fire, each
of which has advantages. The situation you
find yourself in will determine which fire to
use.
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
Teepee
Lean-to
Log Cabin
Cross-Ditch
Pyramid
Council
Laying the fire
a. Tepee
– To make this fire arrange the tinder and a few
sticks of kindling in the shape of a tepee or
cone. Light the center. As the tepee burns,
the outside logs will fall inward, feeding the
fire. This type of fire burns well even with wet
wood.
Laying the fire
b. Lean-To
– To lay this fire push a green stick into the
ground at a 30-degree angle. Point the end of
the stick in the direction of the wind. Place
some tinder deep under this lean-to stick.
Lean pieces of kindling against the lean-to
stick. Light the tinder. As the kindling catches
fire from the tinder, add more kindling.
Laying the fire
c. Log Cabin Fire
– This is the most popular style for beginners to build - I don't know
why, maybe because it looks like a house? Anyway, I tend to not use
it because it is difficult to access the interior. But, I do add wood to a
burning teepee fire to turn it into a log cabin.
– Lay a small teepee fire.
– Lay two larger pieces of fuel wood parallel on opposite sides of the
teepee.
– Lay two slightly smaller pieces of fuel wood parallel on the other two
opposite sides. Leave a space under the upwind piece through which
you can reach the tinder to light it - you might need to fashion a
mini-torch and stick it in to light.
– Continue to lay smaller and shorter pieces to form a cabin or
pyramid shape.
– Have extra kindling ready to drop into the top or through the spaces
on the sides to feed the internal fire until the outer walls catch fire.
– This kind of fire makes good coals and is a classic campfire look.
Getting it lit is the challenge.
Laying the fire
d. Cross-Ditch
– To use this method scratch a cross about 30
centimeters in size in the ground. Dig the
cross 7.5 centimeters deep. Put a large wad of
tinder in the middle of the cross. Build a
kindling pyramid above the tinder. The
shallow ditch allows air to sweep under the
tinder to provide a draft.
Laying the fire
e. Pyramid
– To lay this fire place two small logs or branches
parallel on the ground. Place a solid layer of
small logs across the parallel logs. Add three or
four more layers of logs or branches, each layer
smaller than and at a right angle to the layer
below it. Make a starter fire on top of the
pyramid. As the starter fire burns, it will ignite
the logs below it. This gives you a fire that
burns downward, requiring no attention during
the night.
Laying the fire
f. Council Fire
– The big daddy of large group campfires. A council fire burns hot, bright, and for
a long time without adding more wood. It does take bigger logs and is meant for
entertaining big crowds.
– Lay 4 logs, each about 5 or 6 inches across and 3 to 3.5 feet long, with about 4
inches of air space between logs.
– Across these, lay a platform of about 6 logs, each about 5 inches across and 3
feet long.
– Across this, lay a layer of 4 inch logs, 2.5 feet long.
– Then, two layers of 3 inch logs, 2 feet long, in perpendicular layers.
– Then, 2 layers of 2 inch logs, 2 feet long.
– Then, 2 layers of 1 inch split wood, 18 inches long.
– Make a lot of split kindling sticks and stick them into any open air space in the
log layers.
– Create a teepee structure on top of the last layer of split wood.
– Leaving a space to light the teepee, continue placing more split pieces around
the teepee to make a few more layers.
– The teepee is lit and the fire burns its way down through the layers.
– This fire maintains good flame for a long time as burning fuel drops down into
the larger pieces of wood and ignites them. There is no large structural collapse
as you might get with a log cabin.
Inclement weather
suggestions
1. Use your twiggy bag (a bag of twiggy’s, birch
bark, and pitch etc.)
2. Oozing pitch from conifer trees ignites under the
most adverse conditions. Carefully scrape the
pitch from the tree trying not to injure the bark
3. Look for dry tinder under logs, boulders, at the
base of large trees, and other dry areas.
4. Carve dry wood out of the core of wet kindling.
5. Build a tepee fire being sure to keep the center
well stoked.
Lighting the Fire
1. Don’t be afraid to use paper if it’s available.
2. Remember that heat rises, so when striking a
match; try to hold the lit end lower than the rest
of the match.
3. Light the fire upwind so the heat generated will
be blown towards the fire and not away from it.
4. Homemade or commercial fire starters made
from paraffin and paper can be carried for
lighting fires in moist or emergency conditions.
Remember!!!!