Q&A for How to Build a Campfire

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How do you put out a campfire without water?

Britt Edelen
BA in English Literature, Brown University
Britt Edelen comes to wikiHow after graduating in 2019 from Brown University, where he studied English and German literature and philosophy. While at Brown he contributed frequently to campus publications and worked in the university’s Writing Center. More recently, he has had several articles published in various journals devoted to literary criticism. During his time at wikiHow, Britt supervised and collaborated with writers and editors to continue producing high-quality content and promote wikiHow’s mission of enabling everyone to learn anything.

Britt Edelen

BA in English Literature, Brown University

Expert Answer

If you don't have water, you can use dirt. Just make sure you're using a lot of dirt to snuff out any oxygen. Sand is another good option, so long as you make sure the fire is extinguished and not just covered by the sand.

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Question

How much kindling would I need to keep a fire going all night?

Britt Edelen
BA in English Literature, Brown University
Britt Edelen comes to wikiHow after graduating in 2019 from Brown University, where he studied English and German literature and philosophy. While at Brown he contributed frequently to campus publications and worked in the university’s Writing Center. More recently, he has had several articles published in various journals devoted to literary criticism. During his time at wikiHow, Britt supervised and collaborated with writers and editors to continue producing high-quality content and promote wikiHow’s mission of enabling everyone to learn anything.

Britt Edelen

BA in English Literature, Brown University

Expert Answer

The advice that was always given to me in Boy Scouts was if you need to keep a fire going all night, or for 24 hours, you need a pile of kindling that's the size of a VW Beetle. Then, just to be safe, double it. So basically two cars worth of kindling. That 100% will get you through the night.

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Question

What size sticks should I use for a campfire?

Britt Edelen
BA in English Literature, Brown University
Britt Edelen comes to wikiHow after graduating in 2019 from Brown University, where he studied English and German literature and philosophy. While at Brown he contributed frequently to campus publications and worked in the university’s Writing Center. More recently, he has had several articles published in various journals devoted to literary criticism. During his time at wikiHow, Britt supervised and collaborated with writers and editors to continue producing high-quality content and promote wikiHow’s mission of enabling everyone to learn anything.

Britt Edelen

BA in English Literature, Brown University

Expert Answer

It depends on the size of the fire. You can't just continue putting big sticks on a small fire because that will suffocate it. To maintain size and maintain safety, you'll want to use smaller sticks when the fire is smaller and then add bigger sticks as it grows.

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What materials should I avoid using when building a campfire?

Community Answer

You should avoid using plastics, metals, rhododendron, living animals, nuclear waste. Use some common sense, and you will be fine. Also, if you plan to light it with petrol, make sure you move the can well away before lighting it.

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Question

How about using dryer lint for a fire starter?

Community Answer

For campfire cooking: Use cardboard (not plastic) egg cartons and fill them with your dryer lint after each load. Close cartons for transport to the campsite. At the campsite, tear the egg carton lint-filled sections apart (keeping the lint inside). You'll have 12-18 free recycled fire starters per carton! Spread the sections throughout the wood. Light the cardboard to light your fire. You won't need lighter fluid and you won't have that awful lighter fluid taste on your food. You could even add old candle wax to the outside of the cartons for a longer burn but it is not necessary as the candles often are scented and if you only want to cook quickly (20-40 min) and enjoy the meal, then longer burning isn't needed.

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Question

What is the "Leave No Trace" way of building campfires?

Kyle

Community Answer

You can bury it. First make a hole and burn your fire in it. Keep the turf, and then when you're done, cover the hole back up again.

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Question

How do I light the fire without a match?

Community Answer

One method is using steel wool and a 9-volt battery. If you take the steel wool to the positive and negative ends, it will spark up quickly.

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Question

Can't I use dirt to put out the fire as well?

Community Answer

You need to use dirt. The correct way to put out a campfire is killing the flame, stirring the ash. drowning it with water, burying it with dirt and then feeling it to determine if it is warm.

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Question

What if I have younger brothers who are 3-4 years old?

Community Answer

Supervise them around the fire. Don't put matches, lighters, or anything dangerous anywhere they could possibly reach.

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