15 Oct Crafting a Long-Lasting Campfire (& Where to Put It)

Camping is undoubtedly one of our favourite activities, whether it’s a quick weekend getaway to the coast or a long-haul road trip with endless scenic campgrounds and pit stops. From sleeping under the stars to crisp mornings with a view of the sunrise, no camping experience is complete without one element: fire.

We’re big believers in spending as much time outdoors as possible, and a campfire is one of the most enjoyable ways to bring your camping experience to a whole new level. This month, we are giving you our best tips for not only building a campfire, but how to keep it going well into the night.

Where to Build a Campfire

Nobody wants to be the person responsible for starting a bushfire, so the easiest thing to do before you build anything is find out if fires are even allowed in the area you plan to camp, and if so, if the campground offers a designated campfire area and/or onsite fire pits.

If making your own fire pit, be sure to select a spot away from trees, dry debris, bushes or other flammable materials. Campfires should always be built on bare ground – not grass – and if you’re having an especially hard time finding a good spot, we recommend digging your own and removing any excess plant material. Once you’ve completed the clearing process, gather dirt and form a platform, roughly 75 to 100mm thick, on which to build the fire.

Always be responsible when considering the appropriate size of your campfire, as you don’t want to take any unnecessary risks.

What You Need to Build a Campfire

For any successful campfire, you will essentially need three key materials:

• Tinder: Before its reign as a popular dating app, tinder served a much more practical purpose. Known for catching fire easily and burning quickly, gather common tinder materials like dried bark, wood shavings, leaves and dry grass to start your campfire. Other household items like newspaper, toilet paper and dryer lint also work well for this purpose.
• Kindling: While tinder helps get your campfire going, kindling will help keep it burning longer. Because large logs often smother smaller flames, it’s a good idea to gather kindling items like dry twigs, small branches and sticks to keep that burning power going.
• Fuel Wood: An essential element to any campfire, fuel logs are what keep the fire burning long term. Unlike tinder and kindling, which require total dryness, fuel wood can be slightly damp and should be at least twice the width of your wrist or forearm. As a good rule of thumb, it’s wise to collect twice as much wood as you think you’ll need, especially for a campfire you want to last a while. If you are looking for wood around the campground, keep in mind that large wet logs often create a ton of smoke and take a long time to light properly. Cut logs into fourths for the best results.

In addition, a long-lasting campfire requires plenty of fuel, heat and oxygen, which can be aided with ignition sources like fire starters, storm-proof matches, lighters or even magnifying glasses. Vaseline-coated cotton balls are also an amazing DIY addition to any fire!

How to Build a Campfire

There are several styles to build an effective campfire that will last hours, and these tried and true campfire methods will get you well on your way.

• Tepee: Place the match under your tinder in the centre of the campfire, and create a tepee style with an opening facing into the wind.
• Lean-to-Fire: Place a long piece of kindling into the ground at roughly a 30-degree angle with the end pointing into the wind, leaning up against a medium sized log. Create multiple layers of tinder around the base of the support stick, leaning several pieces of fuel wood against it.
• Log Cabin: Create a small pile of tinder in the centre, then lay large pieces of fuel wood on opposite sides, placing smaller pieces of fuel wood across the first set in a parallel fashion. Repeat until you form a cabin or pyramid shape, placing sticks across the top of the cabin to cover the tinder.
• Upside Down (aka Platform): If you have a decent amount of large logs, lay 3-5 of the largest logs in a neat row, topping it with the same amount of logs in the opposite direction. After 3 layers, make them gradually smaller until you can top with tinder and kindling. While it requires more heat and takes longer to hold, this style offers minimal smoke and less work once it’s roaring.
• Star: Ideal for fires you want to last all night, or those in a fire pit, the star shape also uses minimal wood. Build a tepee in the middle, then place logs around the fire in 3-5 points, hence the ‘star’ name.

How to Put Out a Campfire

When it’s time to put out your campfire, simply sprinkle water on the top to cool the embers and charcoal, stirring it with a stick or shovel. Place the back of your hand near the ashes to ensure it feels cool, and when necessary, dispose of your ashes in a bag and spread them around the campsite, and re-cover the ground if you made your own fire pit.

Pack your camping gear in one of our convenient Omnimate’s and keep your cleaning duties to a minimum with its easy off-the-ground storage design! We love camping, and hope you learned a thing or two about campfire safety, construction and placement. Got a question? Be sure to contact us for more information about how our Omnimate products can transform your next outdoor excursion.