How to Build a Ripper Camp Fire
For thousands of years, human beings have gathered around a camp fire to share meals, tell stories and perform rituals. That practice continues to this day and remains a beloved staple of all camping adventures for cooking, socialising and relaxing. However, it’s important to remember that building a camp fire is no joke. Fire can be dangerous to you and your surroundings, so it’s important to build camp fires carefully and safely. Read on for some top tips to help you safely build the perfect camp fire.
1.Collect Dry Wood
The very first thing to do when building a camp fire is to gather dead wood such as small or big branches. This burns for longer than fresher wood because it contains less moisture. Many national parks and campgrounds forbid gathering firewood from their jurisdiction, so be sure to check and plan ahead as you may need to bring some dead wood with you.
2. Find a Fuel Source
Dead wood alone isn’t enough to start a camp fire, let alone maintain one. You’ll also need dry leaves, tinder and/or large chopped wood as fuel. These materials provide a good surface area for a fire, ensuring it starts successfully. You should stock up on these fuel sources to ensure you won’t run out in the middle of lighting a fire.
3.Build a Base
You can start building a base for your camp fire as soon as you’ve gathered sufficient materials to use as a fuel source. This involves making a pile of tinder and then stacking kindling over it. How much tinder you need will depend on the size of the fire you want to make, but a couple of handfuls are usually enough. You can bring your own kindling or collect it locally if campground rules allow it.
4. Light the Fire
Once a base for your camp fire has been built, light the tinder using a lighter or match, then softly blow on the fire to feed the flames and help it burn faster. Do NOT use any fire accelerants such as gasoline, otherwise the fire might spread too quickly and start a grass or forest fire. Be sure to have a bucket or bottle of water on hand to douse the flames in case something goes wrong.
5.Keep the Fire Burning
To maintain a fire for longer, slowly add more wood for as long as you want to keep it burning. Use smaller branches as opposed to thick logs to ensure the wood burns properly. Thick logs are also more likely to roll around, increasing the risk of spreading the fire around. Before you leave a campsite, make sure the fire has been properly extinguished.
Get Advice from Our Experts Today
At Aussie Disposals, we know a thing or two about building a ripper camp fire. Our experts will be happy to give you useful tips and helpful advice so that you can build camp fires quickly and easily. Simply call us on (03) 9799 5726, send an email or fill out our simple online enquiry form and we’ll do our best to help. You can also shop our range online or in-store to get everything you need.
