Tips for starting a camp fire

[Gette88]

I was hoping for some tips on starting a good camp fire. Any suggestions?

 

[Rhonda]

We always make a tee-pee out of sticks, and stuff rolled-up newspaper pages inside of it and light the newspaper. When the sticks start to burn, we start adding bigger and bigger sticks, until it's hot enough to add logs.

But, just a reminder - Fort Wilderness does not allow campfires. We make our campfires at the state park campgrounds!

 

[Gette88]

Thanks for the tips. Last year was our first time camping and we did good with the fire it just seemed like others started theirs alittle easier. We aren't going to be at FW maybe someday.

 

[my3princes]

The easiest and cleanest way that I have found is to get brown paper bags from the grocery store place a couple of piece of wood along with some kindling (very small dry pieces of wood) and some wadded up newspaper in the bag. We usually put a little lighter fluid (the kind you would put on charcoal) on the bag. Just light the bag and you have a fire. It is easy to get several ready at home, it travels without a mess and all you have to do when you want a fire is lighter fluid and light. Hope this helps.

 

[Gette88]

That does help I was wondering if we could or should use lighter fluid, now I know we can. Thank you.

 

[Mcert01]

The best tool I have found for starting a campfire is Fire Starters. There is no need for lighter fluid, and works well with either a tee pee or a log cabin structure for the firewood. All you need is a little newspaper and/or a little kindling under your main logs, light the Fire Starter, and relax.

I can't tell you how many times I have helped people struggling to build a fire (but succeeding in building massive smoke bombs!) just by tossing a fire starter in the mix. They are also much safer than spraying lighter fluid on a smoldering fire (something I have also seen way too many times)

There are a number of different varieties, sizes and manufacturers. You can find them in any camping or fireplace/bbq store.

Good Luck!

 

[McKeeFamily3]

You can make your own fire starters also.

Start with cardboard egg containers. Fill each cup with dryer lint (cotton, no synthethics) or saw dust. Melt some parafin wax (found in your grocery store by the canning supplies) and pour over each cup. Break up the egg container and keep them in a zip lock bag. 1 cup=1 fire starter.

I'm a girl scout leader and we spend one meeting each year making fire starters for all of our camp outs. Teaches them to use resourses wisley, part of the GS law

Have fun, I've been yearning for a good campfire. Come on Summer!!

 

[fsufandis]

I get the fire logs from the grocery store and break them into chunks.

You can start about 4 or 5 fires and they are a lot cheaper than starters and safer than fluid.

You can get them at Dollar General for $1.50

 

[Gette88]

WOW, thanks everyone for all the great tips. I must admit we made alot of smoke last summer. Thanks to all of you that won't happen this year.

 

[Gunship Guy]

Cottom balls dipped in petroleum jelly. They can be stored in empty 35mm film canisters. Place one cotton ball under your kindling and light it. They burn a long time.

Steel wool pad and a 9 volt battery. Steel wool must not have the dried soap on it. Peel some steel wool off the pad and touch it with both poles of the battery simultaneously. The steel wool will burn and light your kindling. Other types of batteries work too but the 9 volt has +/- poles close together and is easier to use.

Magnesium sticks. Many camping stores carry these. They work great and last a very long time.

I carry all of these in my survival vest.

 

[Parrothd]

Another "Scout Project" that is a little more nature oriented, is to go out in the woods on a pine cone hunt (it helps if you pick a wooded area with pine trees.....hahaha). Gather a whole bunch of dried pine cones. Have the scouts tie a little peice of string or yarn to each pine cone. Melt the aforementioned parafin in a metal container over low heat (you can purchase empty/clean quart sized paint cans in many hardware stores for this purpose). Then simply dip each pine cone in the parafin and set them on paper to dry. About 5 or 6 of these under your kindling usually works.

It's a fun way to make your own firestarters......especially if you're into crafts.

Personally though, I find it much easier to just buy the pre-made firestarters. I always break each stick into quarters. I find that a half a stick is all I ever need to start a fire (a quarter of a stick under each side). I use them under the logs in my fireplace to start my fires all winter long.

 

[rkukl]

I use the tee-pee method and dry kindling along with some “kindle candles” from Yankee Candle. I’m if you have one in your area try them they really help. They are fast burning candles that are in small paper cups so everything burns.

 

[Gette88]

Thanks for all the great tips.

 

[JCJRSmith]

Here is a tip for cheap (free) firewood:

Stop by your nearest beverage store or convenience store and see if they have any old wooden pallets they want to get rid of. It is a bit of work to take them apart, but I have simply sawed them apart with a saber saw and circular saw (just watch out for nails - they can ruin a saw blade in a hurry). The slats from the pallet make GREAT kindling, and the 2x4's burn very cleanly to a fine ash. The wood in the pallets is usually VERY dry so it starts easily.

The only cost is the time involved to haul and seperate the pallets.