Campfire tips and tricks

Confidently build a campfire that burns consistently and safely with these campfire tips and tricks.

Check the restrictions

Campfire regulations vary from region to region. Check whether a fire ban is in place before you leave.

Choose the best firewood

Choose dry logs. Wet wood smokes more and is harder to keep alight. It is tempting to hunt around for small sticks as kindling, but this is prohibited in most campgrounds — take a hatchet and split some firewood into skinny pieces instead.

Safety first

Always use a fire ring when there is one. If you have to make your own pit, clear the vegetation away and mound dirt or rocks in a ring around it.

Bring fire starter

Something to get it going so the kindling and then the logs can catch. Buy proper fire starter, or use newspaper, dryer lint or egg cartons.

Follow the right order

Fire starter in the centre, small kindling in a teepee over the top, then larger logs spaced to let air through. Teepee and log cabin are the two popular ways to stack them.

Build it up gradually

Once it is lit, resist the urge to pile logs on. Too many at once smothers the flame; adding slowly keeps it consistent.

Put the flames out

Never leave a campfire unattended. Keep water on hand to douse it before you leave or go to bed, and give the ashes a good stir to be sure it is completely out.