1. Campfires

2. Campfire Safety Observe posted restrictions
Observe overhanging obstructions
Provide adequate ventilation x2
Use or make fire ring (3 foot diameter)
Clear debris area (10 foot diameter)
Watch for vines and tree roots
Use locally sourced wood
No “horseplay” around fire
Beware of synthetic clothing
Leave No Trace
Thoroughly extinguish all fires

3. Campfire Preparation Create dry working area Collect materials
Shelter first, then fire, then water
Collect materials
Tinder, Kindling, Fuel
Clear area
Ensure dry base
Have all items before attempting to start fire

4. Campfire Requirements
Heat
Spark
Oxygen
Air
Fuel
Wood

5. Campfire Heat Lighter Matches Ferro Rod and striker
Magnesium stick and steel
Flint and Steel
Bow and Drill
Battery and foil or steel wool
Fire piston and char cloth

6. Campfire Ignition

7. Campfire Starter Cotton Balls with petroleum jelly Jute twine with wax
Cotton pads with wax
Dryer lint balls
Sawdust and wax in card board egg carton
Toilet paper tubes with wax and rolled cardboard
Hand sanitizer
Fine steel wool

8. Campfire Fuel Tinder Dead twigs on lower branches of trees, dry leaves
Small shrubs that snap easily
No green wood
Pencil lead to pencil sized
No shorter than outstretched hand (span)
Enough to fill circle of both hands

9. Campfire Fuel Kindling
Should be dry
Look for dead and down branches
Not buried branches
No thicker than thumb
As long as arm (cubit)
Bundle as big as both arms in circle

10. Campfire Fuel Fuel Should be dry Split larger wood
Thick as wrist or better
Long as arm from shoulder
Pile high as knee

11. Campfire Styles
Start with a few handfuls of tinder that are loosely piled in the center of the fire ring.
Next make a small cone of kindling around the tinder
Once the fire is going strong and the temperature increases, you can add larger logs a few at a time as needed.

12. Campfire Styles
Place two larger pieces of firewood parallel to each other and with some room in between to form the base of your structure.
Then, turn 90 degrees and place two slightly smaller pieces on top and perpendicular to form a square.
Place plenty of tinder inside the square.
Continue adding a few more layers of firewood around the perimeter, getting a little bit smaller with each layer.
Finish with a layer of kindling and tinder across the top.
Remember to leave space between logs so the fire can get plenty of oxygen.

13. Campfire Styles
Start with three or four of your largest logs side-by-side on the bottom layer.
Turn 90 degrees and then add a second layer of slightly smaller logs on top.
Continue alternating a few more layers in this manner, getting smaller as you go.
Place your kindling and tinder on top.
Lasts longer

14. Campfire Styles

15. Campfire Clean Up Extinguish all fires by sprinkling water on them
Stir the ashes
Apply more water
Repeat as often as needed
Ashes should be cool to the touch before you leave the site
Be utterly certain a fire and its embers are out and cold before you depart
Never leave a campfire unattended!