| Now that you have the perfect campsite and | | | | used to get the fire going. They should be |
| everything is ready to go, it is time to start the | | | | branches ranging from the size of pencils to the |
| campfire. If you are a beginner this can be a very | | | | same diameter as a dime. These smaller pieces |
| frustrating experience. There are things that you | | | | make the fire easier to ignite. Larger pieces of |
| can do to make it easier. Follow these steps and | | | | dried wood are the last step. Hardwoods are the |
| with a little practice you can be a campfire | | | | best because they burn longer and hotter; they |
| master. There are three essential things that you | | | | are also the best for cooking. If you use pine for |
| need to make a fire: heat, fuel and oxygen. Take | | | | sitting around the fire that is fine, but the sap can |
| any one of these things out of the equation and | | | | make food taste funny when you use it to cook. |
| you will have no fire. | | | | Always think safety first when you are building a |
| The first things you will need are tinder, kindling | | | | fire. You should start with a fire pit or ring of |
| and firewood. These three things are the fuel | | | | stones to contain the fire. The stone ring needs |
| element of fire building. Tinder is your starting | | | | to be 8 to 12 inches high and twice the diameter |
| point and you can use many things such as | | | | of the fire. Make sure that you use caution |
| newspaper, dried grass, cottonwood or lighter fluid | | | | around the fire at all times. |
| if you have it. Kindling is small pieces of wood | | | | |