How to Light a Fire, Tinder > Kindling > Firewood > Heat

Updated: Sep 26, 2023

Rule of thumb, take your time and do it right the first time.

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Step 1.

Gather tinder, which catches the initial spark or flame and transfers it to the kindling. If the kindling is damp or wet, the tinder must burn long enough to dry out the kindling. You can turn dry sticks and pieces of bark into powdery tinder with a knife. You can also use: dead dry plants and grasses wax lint char cloth moss wood shavings paper pine pitch dry needles from coniferous trees fire sticks fire starters

Step 2.

Gather kindling. Kindling needs a large surface to volume ratio so it can produce a very hot flame that's transferred to the main fuel. Good sources: dry twigs and wood pieces, cardboard, large pieces of wood cut into small pieces, fuzz sticks (shavings cut into sticks, but still attached).

Step 3.

Gather fuel. Fuel burns slowly and steadily for an extended period of time. Sources include dry wood, twisted dry grasses, peat, animal dung, and coal. Green or wet fuel can be used, but only once the fire is established; it'll be dried by the heat and burn more slowly than dry fuel.

Softwoods/conifers/evergreens have leaves in the shape of needles. They burn quickly and very hot, and they also contain flammable resins that help with building a fire. Because of this, they're often used for kindling as well, since they're easier to ignite than hardwoods.[1]

Hardwoods have broad flat leaves and they don't catch fire as easily as softwoods. Once they do, however, they burn for a longer period of time and give off more heat.[1]

Look for branches at the bottom of a tree, nothing off the ground (it's likely to be too damp).

It may be necessary to know How to Split Hardwood Firewood or How to Split Gnarly Firewood

You can also Make Logs from Newspapers.

Step 4.

Clear a circular area about four feet in diameter. Build a ring of rocks or dig a fire pit that's several inches deep. Constructing a ring of stones will insulate the fire. Alternatively, building a fire wall with logs or rocks will reflect the fire's heat, especially if you'll only be on one side of the fire (because otherwise the heat sent off in the other direction is wasted). If the ground is wet or covered with snow, build a platform out of green logs and cover them with a layer of earth or stones. Always have a bucket of water next to you in case the fire starts burning outside the base. You can also Build a Fire in a Hubcap.

Step 5.

Place the tinder in a pile of kindling that's spaced loosely enough to let air circulate, but close enough so a flame can spread through. Light the tinder and add kindling. As the fire grows, add firewood. Now here's where your inner architect can shine through...choose one of the following arrangements: * Tepee - Arrange tinder and a few sticks of kindling in the shape of a cone and light the center. The outside logs will fall inward and feed the fire. Burns well with wet wood.

Step 6.

Log cabin method - Stack layers alternating in direction, forming walls around a tepee. Air between sticks allows circulation of air. The "chimney effect" will suck air in through the bottom and let it exit through top as strong flame

Step 7

Pyramid - This is like the log cabin method, except the layers get smaller as they reach the top, and there is no tepee inside. Place two small logs or branches on the ground so that they're parallel to each other, then put a solid layer of small logs or branches on top of them in a perpendicular direction. Add three or four more layers, each time alternating the direction, and each layer being smaller than the one before. Light the top of the pyramid on fire, and it will burn downwards on its own.