Build a fire: Instructions for your campfire

Whether as a warmth fire, cooking fire, or sleeping fire, the history of the campfire is roughly as old as humanity itself. As a central heat source, the campfire usually forms the main meeting and gathering point when people come together in nature for an extended time. In the evening, people meet there for socializing, sitting on the ground, on logs, or seats.

What you need to make fire in nature
Step-by-step guide for your campfire
Tips for safely extinguishing fire
Making fire without a lighter
Making fire with a firestone
When and where is making fire allowed?
Accessories for your campfire in nature

What you need to make fire in nature

When you're out in the wild, starting a fire is a skill you should have up your sleeve. Whether you're cooking at the campfire, warming up, or just enjoying the romantic atmosphere, here are the basics you need to light and keep the fire burning:

Ignition source: Let's start with the obvious – you need something to ignite the fire. A lighter or matches are classics, but if conditions are damp, a Feuerkolben is your best buddy.
Tinder: Okay, you have your ignition source, but what really burns well? Twigs, bark, moss – anything that catches fire easily is your friend. Or if you like it simple, grab a Petromax Fire Kit or some Char Cloth. These things are real fire starters!
Firewood: Once the fire is burning, you need to keep it going. So, gather plenty of firewood, preferably dry, so it burns nicely through. You can tell dry wood by the crackling sound when it breaks. Additionally, you can smear a small amount of dish soap on one side of a log and blow into the other side. If bubbles form, the wood is dry.
Tools: A pocket knife helps you chop twigs, remove bark, and do all the other things you need to prepare and maintain the fire. Removing the bark from your firewood helps it burn better.
Safety is cool: Making fire is great, but safety comes first. Keep water or a fire extinguisher nearby, just in case. It's better to be safe and keep the fire under control.

Step-by-step guide for your campfire

Choose the right spot: Before you even think about making fire, the first step is picking the perfect place. Look for a flat, non-flammable surface that’s sheltered from the wind. Remember, safety comes first – keep at least 3 to 5 meters away from anything flammable like bushes, trees, or your gear.
Find firewood: The key to a great fire is the right wood. Gather a variety of dry wood types, from small tinder like bark and needles to larger pieces that provide long-lasting embers. Hard wood is ideal for slow-burning campfires, while soft wood delivers quick heat.
Prepare the firewood: Before you light the flames, prepare the wood by removing bark and shavings. This makes lighting easier and ensures efficient burning.
Prepare the ground: Make sure the ground around your fire pit is free of flammable material. Simple bare earth without leaves is perfect. Build a ring of stones around the fire to isolate it and increase safety.
Start the fire: Build your fire in a pyramid shape, with tinder in the middle and thin branches on top. Light carefully and make sure you don’t smother the fire – it needs air! A gentle blow into the fire can help ignite the flames.
Enjoy the fire long-term: Once the fire is burning, add firewood regularly to keep the embers alive. But don’t forget to always keep an eye on the fire and watch for smoke to make sure everything stays safe.

Pro tip: Petromax for a quick campfire start

Still looking for the right gear for your next campfire? At Petromax, you’ll find the ideal equipment for your next Abenteuer. Whether it’s a Professional Blowtorch, Fire Kit, Fire Blow Pipe, Char Cloth, or Feuerkolben – we offer everything you need to light your campfire easily and efficiently.

For an especially effortless start, we recommend the Petromax Fire Kit. Simply stick the little sticks into the cardboard and light the wood shavings – done! Place the Fire Kit in the middle of firewood, charcoal, or briquettes, and the fire will ignite by itself!

Tips for safely extinguishing fire

Starting a fire can be a real Abenteuer, but knowing how to safely and thoroughly put it out is just as important. Here are some tips to keep in mind:

Complete extinguishing: Before you leave the fire site, make sure the fire is completely out. Even a small ember can lead to an uncontrolled blaze.
Let it burn down: Let the fire burn down until only embers remain. This reduces the risk of sparks flying and makes extinguishing easier.
Pour water carefully: Pour water slowly and controlled over the embers to put them out. Avoid dumping water all at once to prevent hot splashes.
Stir the ashes: Stir the embers and ashes carefully with a stick to make sure everything is extinguished. Make sure no embers are hiding.
Check the fire site: Before you go, thoroughly check the fire site to ensure it’s no longer giving off heat. Carefully touch the ashes to make sure they’re cool.

Making fire without a lighter

Sometimes you find yourself in nature without your reliable lighter at hand. But don’t panic! There are still alternative tools and techniques to start a fire. Here are some of them:

Feuerkolben: A Feuerkolben is a great option, especially in damp conditions when conventional ignition sources might fail. By rapid air compression, the temperature rises enough to ignite tinder.
Friction: A classic method is using friction. By rubbing two dry pieces of wood or a stick quickly against each other, you generate heat that can ignite tinder. This method requires practice and patience but can be very effective.
Magnifying glass or glass: On a sunny day, you can use a magnifying glass or even a piece of glass to focus sunlight and ignite tinder. Hold the magnifying glass or glass over the tinder and concentrate the sunlight on a small spot until it catches fire.
Firestone: A firestone, also called a firesteel, is a handy tool to create sparks that can ignite tinder. By striking the firestone with a sharp object like a knife or a piece of metal, you produce hot sparks that can light the tinder.

Making fire with a firestone

Starting a fire with a firestone might seem like a technique from long ago, but it’s an extremely effective method still used today. To make fire with a firestone, you naturally need a firestone as well as sulfide minerals and tinder. Suitable minerals for this purpose are marcasite and pyrite.

Before you start, prepare your fire as you normally would. Make sure the tinder is easily accessible and everything is ready to ignite the fire quickly. Hold the firestone and the marcasite or pyrite against each other and strike them lightly at an angle. This creates hot sparks that fall onto the tinder positioned below.

Once the sparks have landed on the tinder, start blowing gently to fan the embers. Be patient and keep the fire alive as it begins to burn. Add more tinder and firewood to strengthen and maintain the fire. Lighting a fire with a firestone may seem challenging at first, but with practice and patience, you can master this ancient technique.

When and where is making fire allowed?

Basically, you may only make your campfire with the permission of the landowner, whether it’s private property or public land (municipality). In the forest, making fire is only allowed with written permission from the forest owner. Without this, it is strictly forbidden and heavy fines may apply.

Whether a fire is allowed in your own garden unfortunately cannot be answered generally, as the regulations are set by the respective municipalities. So it’s best to inform yourself beforehand before lighting the fire. Ask directly at the city administration, public order office, local police, or fire department and inform your neighbors.

The rules for making fire vary depending on the federal state and region, so it’s advisable to check local regulations before lighting a fire. This information is usually found in the landscape law of the respective federal state.

Accessories for your campfire in nature

To make sure you’re well equipped for your next campfire, here are important tools to help make your next campfire a complete success!

You can easily light your campfire with the Petromax Professional Blowtorch. Build your outdoor cooking station at the campfire with the Petromax Cooking Tripod. On the hook of the sturdy Cooking Tripod, you can easily hang a Grilling Grate or the Petromax Dutch Oven (Feuertopf).

You’ll also enjoy cooking outdoors with a fireproof cast iron pot like the Petromax Dutch Oven (Feuertopf), trying out the tastiest recipes by the campfire. Beyond that, there’s plenty more for a great campfire. For example, the Petromax Campfire Skewers LS1 and LS2, with which you can easily roast sausages, vegetables, marshmallows, and stick breads over the campfire.

The Campfire Skewer LS1 has slightly upward-curved prongs: this lets you use it as a grilling skewer and keeps the food in place. The Campfire Skewer LS2 has prongs bent all the way back, making it especially easy for kids to grill without losing food. This makes the Campfire Skewer LS2 perfect for family grill parties. And of course, you can also use them as sausage skewers over your campfire.

Whether you want to improve your survival skills or dive deeper into bushcraft – in our other articles you’ll find helpful techniques and the best gear for outdoors!

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