January 2025 - 44

1. Make a fire ring with stones.
2. Build a platform of finger-sized dry twigs and
place matchstick-sized twigs on top.
Start with safety. Check for fire restrictions
in the area and if the wildfire risk is high,
medium or low. Teach them how easily wildfires
can start and spread. A fire needs fuel,
oxygen and an ignition source. Show them
surrounding fuel sources in the area, such
as dry grass, weeds, brush, twigs and wood,
and build the fire a safe distance from these
fuel sources. Let them know wind can blow
embers well away from a fire and ignite these
surrounding unspent fuel sources.
Have kids collect the materials to build the
3. Place finger-sized twigs around the tinder
like a tepee.
4. Place wood the width of a shovel handle around
the outside of the smaller twigs - this may be done
before or after the fire is started.
fire, and bring gloves along to protect their
hands. Collect a large pile of tinder, which
is dry, small matchstick-sized twigs that can
be found underneath the canopy of conifers,
cedars and junipers. If tinder is unavailable,
prepare a pile of wood shavings. Then collect
a pile of finger-sized twigs - called kindling
- and a pile of larger branches the thickness
of a shovel handle as fuel wood.
Select a location for the fire. If rocks are
5. Start the fire low at the bottom of the tinder.
6. Enjoy the warmth of the fire, adding wood as
needed.
LEARN THE BASICS
This experience impressed upon me the
importance of being able to build a fire. In
addition to providing warmth and drying
clothes, a fire is a source of light and is useful
for signaling rescuers, purifying water, cooking
food, keeping insects and predators away and
providing mental comfort. Over the years I've
camped with people in their 30s and 40s who
were unable to build a fire in ideal conditions
because no one had taught them the fundamentals
of how to do it.
Inspire a kid to learn this important survival
skill. Plan a field trip with kids or young adults
to teach them the basic skills. I've found children
quickly warm up to the idea of building
a fire themselves.
44 | January 2025
available, make a ring of stones to bank the
fire. Start by building a platform of finger-sized
dry twigs crisscrossed on the ground inside the
fire ring. Place plenty of the matchstick-sized
tinder on top of the platform. The crisscrossed
platform allows plenty of oxygen to be drawn
from underneath the tinder. Next, place the
finger-sized twigs vertically around the tinder
like a tepee, but not too close together as
oxygen needs to be drawn in from the sides.
Finally, place a few of the shovel-handle-sized
wood tepee-style on the outside of the smaller
twigs, or you can add them later after the fire
gets going. Start the fire down low at the bottom
of the tinder just above the platform. The
flames will quickly climb upward through the
center of the tinder, drawing air from underneath.
Now sit back and enjoy the warmth
and comfort of the campfire and roast lunch
over the coals.
The skill of building a fire can be overlooked
by even skilled outdoorsmen, but it's
an important one to master. The art takes
practice, and it's worth doing many times as
you get more comfortable in getting a blaze
going. It's something that may just save your
life one day.
- Kent Stevenson is retired from a career as an aerospace
automation/controls and process engineer. He continues
to spend much of his time hunting, fishing and camping
in Wyoming.
January 2025

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of January 2025
