| No list of tent camping tips would be complete | | | | These should be put on the fire in increasing size |
| without a good discussion on fire building. Ever | | | | until you find the appropriate size fire you are |
| since Prometheus brought fire to man, its | | | | looking for. |
| properties have been cherished throughout our | | | | 5. Starting Fire: I recommend creating a small |
| history. Its importance during a camping trip | | | | teepee with the shavings and light the shavings. |
| almost takes on a spiritual healing significance as it | | | | As the fire starts going, you should add the |
| can boost morale and provide strength even on a | | | | kindling and then add the various sizes of dead |
| rainy or cold day. | | | | wood.a. One caveat: if the dead wood is wet, split |
| With that said, the task of building a fire can be | | | | the wood with an axe. The inside wood tends to |
| done many different ways. However, here are a | | | | be drier and will allow it to burn more easily. |
| few camping tips to keep in mind. | | | | 6. Choice of Woods: This is usually dictated by |
| 1. Location: Find an open location of at least a 6 | | | | your camping site; however, it is a good idea to |
| yard radius of open space. (Almost all camping | | | | know your woods.a. Softwoods, such as pine, firs, |
| sites should be able to accommodate this size). It | | | | and cedar, are good for shavings and burn quickly. |
| is also a good idea to avoid areas where there | | | | However, they tend not to give off much heat or |
| are a lot of dead, over-hanging branches. If it has | | | | last very long. Also, cedar and pine can get very |
| recently been raining or there is snow on the | | | | smoky and should be avoided when cooking.b. |
| trees, put a tarp above the fire. This is to protect | | | | Medium Hardwoods, such as maple, aspen, and |
| the fire from being put out by any falling snow or | | | | cottonwood, are better at burning a little longer |
| rain when the wind blows. | | | | and are good kindling.c. Hardwoods, such as oak, |
| 2. Size: Clear out the underbrush surrounding the | | | | burn the longest and provide the most heat. This |
| fire for a good 3 yard radius. This is done to | | | | makes them the best for cooking. |
| prevent a brush fire from occurring. If the | | | | 7. Firewood Supply: You can never have enough |
| campsite has been undergoing a drought or has | | | | firewood. Once you get the fire going, make |
| been particularly dry, extend this radius out to 5 | | | | periodic trips to get more wood. Always make a |
| yards. | | | | point to get more than you think you will need. |
| 3. Containment: Fires are usually contained by | | | | 8. Dry Wood: For morning fires, it is a good idea |
| making a pit lined with rocks or using a backlog. A | | | | to bring firewood into the tent during the previous |
| back log is a large log that the fire is placed | | | | night. This will help prevent morning dew or rain |
| against. These containments are used to keep the | | | | during the night to delay the starting of the |
| fire enclosed. For most camping sites, either | | | | morning fire. |
| containment can be used. However, a pit lined | | | | 9. Other Fire Building Tent Camping Tips:a. Live |
| with rocks is a better option in the mountains | | | | wood can be used to setup your cooking area. |
| where a strong wind can blow out the fire. | | | | Live wood is less likely to burn and thus can be |
| 4. Firewood: Before starting the fire, it is wise to | | | | used to make pot hooks to hold pots, stakes to |
| have your firewood ready to go. This keeps you | | | | hold frying pans over the fire, and can even be |
| from having to go hunting for firewood while | | | | used to make an overhang for the fire by |
| getting the fire initially going. There are three | | | | chopping out two Y pieces that have another |
| types of firewood that you want ready.a. | | | | straight crosspiece placed across the notches of |
| Shavings or tender: These are the strips cut off | | | | the two Y pieces.b. Morning coals: If the weather |
| of dead wood by your knife. Also, dried grass and | | | | conditions are appropriate, it is a good idea to |
| cotton can be used as tender.b. Kindling: This | | | | have a big evening fire with hardwoods. Often |
| includes twigs and pine needles. These can be | | | | times, you will still have coals in the morning that |
| pulled off of dead trees and burn a little longer | | | | can be used to start the fire. |
| than shavings.c. Various sizes of dead wood: | | | | |