A great campfire is more than just flames and smoke—it’s the heart of your patrol campsite. Whether you’re cooking a meal, drying your boots, or bringing your troop together for a night of songs and stories, knowing how to build a proper campfire is an essential Scout skill.
This guide will walk you through everything you need to know to build the perfect campfire, from preparation to extinguishing it responsibly.
Why Campfire Skills Matter in Scouting
Being able to build, manage, and put out a fire safely is a foundational Scout skill. You’ll use it for:
- Cooking on campouts
- Completing the requirements for the Firem’n Chit
- Earning the Camping Merit Badge
- Practicing Leave No Trace fire principles
Plus, fire safety is part of what makes you a trusted Scout—both to your troop and to your leaders.
Step 0: Earn your Firem’n Chit
Before starting or watching over a fire, all Scouts need to earn their Firem’n Chit, where you’ll learn the basics of fire safety. Luckily for you, I have complete guide on earning both your Firem’n Chit and Totin’ Chip that you can find here!
Step 1: Choose the Right Spot
Before striking a match, you need to find a safe and legal place for your fire.
What to look for:
- A designated fire ring or fire pit if available
- A spot at least 10 feet away from tents, trees, or brush
- Flat, bare ground with no overhanging branches
If your campsite doesn’t have a fire ring:
- Clear a circle at least 5 feet wide
- Dig a shallow pit and surround it with rocks if allowed
- Check local fire restrictions before lighting any fire
Step 2: Gather the Right Materials
A fire is only as good as its fuel. You’ll need three types of materials:
1. Tinder – Catches fire easily
- Dry leaves, grass, bark shavings, cotton balls, dryer lint
2. Kindling – Builds heat
- Small twigs and sticks no thicker than a pencil
3. Fuelwood – Sustains the fire
- Dry logs and branches the thickness of your wrist or more
Pro tip: Gather more wood than you think you’ll need. Fires always use up material faster than expected.
Step 3: Build Your Fire Lay
There’s more than one way to stack a fire, depending on your purpose. Here are three common types:
Teepee Lay
Best for beginners and quick lighting.
- Stick tinder in the center.
- Lean kindling in a cone shape over it.
- Add fuel logs once the fire catches.
Log Cabin Lay
Burns longer and provides even heat for cooking.
- Place two larger sticks parallel on the ground.
- Stack two more sticks on top, perpendicular.
- Repeat to form a square structure with tinder in the center.
Lean-To Lay
Works well in windy or wet conditions.
- Lay a large stick on the ground.
- Lean kindling over it like a roof, with tinder underneath.
Choose the layout that fits your conditions and your goals.
Step 4: Light the Fire
Use a match, lighter, or fire starter to ignite the tinder, not the kindling or fuel logs directly.
- Light from the windward side so the flame spreads naturally.
- Once the tinder catches, gently blow at the base to help oxygen reach the flames.
- Add more kindling slowly—don’t smother it.
Once the fire is strong, feed it with fuel logs one at a time.
Step 5: Maintain the Fire
- Add wood as needed, but don’t overload it.
- Keep a water bucket and shovel nearby at all times.
- Never leave the fire unattended.
- I recommend appointing someone as a Fire Marshall to keep watch over the fire.
- Use a fire stick (a long branch) to adjust burning logs and coals without risking your hand.
Step 6: Extinguish the Fire Completely
A Scout leaves no trace—and that includes smoke or glowing embers.
How to put it out:
- Sprinkle—not dump—water over the coals.
- Stir ashes with a stick or shovel to expose hot spots.
- Add more water, stir again.
- Continue until the ashes are cool to the touch.
- Use the back of your hand when checking for hot spots to avoid burning your fingertips
Never bury a fire. Heat can linger underground and reignite.
Bonus Tips
- Use dead, downed wood—never cut live branches
- Collect firewood before dark
- Know how to build a fire without matches (for Wilderness Survival practice)
