1. Fire and Fire Safety Fires can be very useful in the outdoors if they are used right. Fires can be very useful in the outdoors if they are used right. When making a fire, the most important thing to think about is SAFETY! When making a fire, the most important thing to think about is SAFETY!

2. Preventing Fires While cooking outdoors with fire, you must control the fire in a safe environment. While cooking outdoors with fire, you must control the fire in a safe environment. You can control your fire by making sure your are at least ten feet away from near by branches, houses, or easily flammable objects. You can control your fire by making sure your are at least ten feet away from near by branches, houses, or easily flammable objects. With outdoor fires, use a fire ring. This is a ring made of stones to keep the fire in a contained area. With outdoor fires, use a fire ring. This is a ring made of stones to keep the fire in a contained area.

3. Wind In the outdoors heavy wind is dangerous to uncontrolled fires. In the outdoors heavy wind is dangerous to uncontrolled fires. The wind can easily spread the fire and it can all start with a simple spark. The wind can easily spread the fire and it can all start with a simple spark. The smaller the fire the easier it will be to contain due to wind. The smaller the fire the easier it will be to contain due to wind.

4. Preparation To create a fire you must have at least 3 things: Fuel, Heat, Oxygen. To create a fire you must have at least 3 things: Fuel, Heat, Oxygen. You need to first choose a nice safe spot for your fire. You need to first choose a nice safe spot for your fire. You must always be prepared for the worst when using fire. You must always be prepared for the worst when using fire. Many people have plans and protection against indoor fires such as: escape routes, fire extinguishers, fire alarms, etc. You must also be prepared when you are outdoors because fire can spread fast and easy. Many people have plans and protection against indoor fires such as: escape routes, fire extinguishers, fire alarms, etc. You must also be prepared when you are outdoors because fire can spread fast and easy. Keep a bucket of water near by and remove all flammable objects away from the fire pit. Keep a bucket of water near by and remove all flammable objects away from the fire pit.

5. Selecting your location When determining where to set up your camp site, always keep fire safety in mind. When determining where to set up your camp site, always keep fire safety in mind. Select a location with very little brush, and make sure there is a flat surface surrounded by rocks for your fire. Rocks will stop the fire from spreading if the ground happens to catch fire. Select a location with very little brush, and make sure there is a flat surface surrounded by rocks for your fire. Rocks will stop the fire from spreading if the ground happens to catch fire. Also make sure your location is not too dry. Forest fires are more likely to start in a really dry atmosphere. Also make sure your location is not too dry. Forest fires are more likely to start in a really dry atmosphere.

6. Materials To make a successful fire, you will need tinder and kindling. To make a successful fire, you will need tinder and kindling. Tinder- Very small and fine material that will ignite easily. Materials that are dead, dry, and natural are ideal. Ex: small twigs, dry leaves, tree bark, pine cones, moss. Kindling- This is your bigger pieces of wood, such as logs, which makes the base of the fire. This will keep your fire burning bright. Tinder- Very small and fine material that will ignite easily. Materials that are dead, dry, and natural are ideal. Ex: small twigs, dry leaves, tree bark, pine cones, moss. Kindling- This is your bigger pieces of wood, such as logs, which makes the base of the fire. This will keep your fire burning bright.

7. Construction There are many different ways to lay a fire, depending on what type of fire you are building but a standard procedure would be… There are many different ways to lay a fire, depending on what type of fire you are building but a standard procedure would be… First check to see if the ground is wet, if it is too wet to get your fire started then lay a foundation of large logs to start your fire on. First check to see if the ground is wet, if it is too wet to get your fire started then lay a foundation of large logs to start your fire on. Lay a foundation of tinder at the bottom of your fire pit. Lay a foundation of tinder at the bottom of your fire pit. Next start laying down your kindling around the tinder. Depending on the fire you are making, there is a certain order of size that you should place your wood. For a tee-pee fire start with your smaller twigs first and work your way up to your bigger logs. For a log-cabin fire, you should start with your big pieces at the bottom to create a solid base. Work your way up placing one stick at a time in decreasing size until you are done. Next start laying down your kindling around the tinder. Depending on the fire you are making, there is a certain order of size that you should place your wood. For a tee-pee fire start with your smaller twigs first and work your way up to your bigger logs. For a log-cabin fire, you should start with your big pieces at the bottom to create a solid base. Work your way up placing one stick at a time in decreasing size until you are done.

8. Types of Wood Old dried wood such as evergreens and needle based trees are ideal Old dried wood such as evergreens and needle based trees are ideal Pine, Spruce, and Cedar will ignite very quickly but will also burn at a much faster rate. Pine, Spruce, and Cedar will ignite very quickly but will also burn at a much faster rate. hardwoods such as oak, ash, and maple will burn for a longer period of time but are more difficult to light. hardwoods such as oak, ash, and maple will burn for a longer period of time but are more difficult to light. Aspen, Birch, and Poplar make a produce a lot of heat but burn fairly quick. Aspen, Birch, and Poplar make a produce a lot of heat but burn fairly quick.

9. Types of Fires…

10. Types of Fires Continued Teepee Fire: This is probably the most common and basic fire design. It’s a great fire to make quickly for warmth or for boiling water. It is often used as a starter for a fire which bigger and longer-lasting fires are founded. Teepee Fire: This is probably the most common and basic fire design. It’s a great fire to make quickly for warmth or for boiling water. It is often used as a starter for a fire which bigger and longer-lasting fires are founded. Pyramid/Platform fire (log cabin)- These fires are ideal for cooking. Because of the way it is built, the smoke exits out the side of the fire so your food doesn’t taste as smoky. Pyramid/Platform fire (log cabin)- These fires are ideal for cooking. Because of the way it is built, the smoke exits out the side of the fire so your food doesn’t taste as smoky.

11. Types of Fire continued again. Parallel Fire: A fire that is built between two long logs. If the logs are the same size, a nice flat spot is formed on top for cooking in pots or pans. This kind of fire is built almost exclusively for cooking. Parallel Fire: A fire that is built between two long logs. If the logs are the same size, a nice flat spot is formed on top for cooking in pots or pans. This kind of fire is built almost exclusively for cooking. Star or Indian Fire: Often dipicted as the campfire of the Old West. This fire consists of five or six logs laid out like the spokes of a wheel. You light the fire at the “hub” (the middle) and each log must be pushed towards the centre as the ends are burned. This fire can be burned for a long time with little maintenance. Star or Indian Fire: Often dipicted as the campfire of the Old West. This fire consists of five or six logs laid out like the spokes of a wheel. You light the fire at the “hub” (the middle) and each log must be pushed towards the centre as the ends are burned. This fire can be burned for a long time with little maintenance.

12. …And Again. Reflector Fire: Any fire that has some sort of flat surface behind it to direct the heat back out past the fire. The reflector can be made out of a few large slabs of bark laid on several large logs. Rocks can also be used but be careful!… Exploding rocks can send sharp pieces flying in every direction. Reflector Fire: Any fire that has some sort of flat surface behind it to direct the heat back out past the fire. The reflector can be made out of a few large slabs of bark laid on several large logs. Rocks can also be used but be careful!… Exploding rocks can send sharp pieces flying in every direction.