How to ... build a campfire

It takes some technique to create the kind of glowing bonfire that chilly campers crave

There’s just something about a campfire — the smell of burning wood in the great outdoors, the mesmerizing flicker of orange and yellow flames, that comforting crackle and cozy warmth. It tempts normally healthy eaters to stuff themselves with marshmallows, hot dogs and other high-calorie goodies. It draws stories and jokes out of the most tight-lipped folks. And it brings people together.

Maybe that’s why it’s one of the things people remember most when they think back to their days in Boy Scouts or Girls Scouts and summers spent camping in the mountains.

“There’s just something inviting about (it),” said Al Nash, spokesman for the National Park Service in Washington, D.C. “Sitting on a log or chair on the ground around the flames with that little waft of smoke and radiant heat just evokes a lot of feelings and images in people’s minds that takes (them) back to a simpler time.”

Sounds great, huh?

There’s just one catch — you have to be able to actually get a fire going to experience the ambience. Countless campers have bickered about the best way to do it, but for the basics, we turn to the Boy Scouts of America, which has been teaching generations of boys how to fend for themselves in the wilderness.

The first step is to either locate an existing fire ring or create one. Most campgrounds and state or national parks will have designated campfire rings or grates, but if you’re really roughing it, find a flat area clear of overhanging brush and branches and clear away any debris.

Spread a ground cloth, tarp or trash bag on the ground and pour a good supply of soil on top to create a mound, 4 to 5 inches thick and 18 to 24 inches in diameter. Surround the mound with rocks and build the fire on top of the soil.

There’s more than one way to arrange, or lay, a campfire, but the most popular is the tepee. Start by putting a loose handful of tinder in the center of the fire ring and place plenty of light kindling on top.

Nash said campers should only gather dead and downed timber for fires. Some parks don’t even allow that, so visitors should check the rules ahead of time and bring their own firewood if necessary.

Place small sticks of wood in the form of a tepee around the tinder pile, leaving an opening on the side the wind is blowing from so that air can get inside.

Using a match or lighter, ignite the bottom of the tinder pile. You may need to blow softly at the base of the fire to get it going. Once the fire is burning, gradually add larger pieces of fuel wood.

Shaun Donovan, district executive for the York-Adams Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America, said the most common problem he sees is people using pieces of wood that are too large too soon in the process. “You have to start out small and work your way up.”

Wet or green wood won’t work well either.

As the fire burns, continue to lean pieces of wood against the outside of the tepee, or let the wood collapse in as it burns and lay new pieces on the bed of the fire in a crisscross fashion. This will create a good bed of coals for cooking or slow-roasting marshmallows to golden-brown perfection.

When you’re ready to let the fire die, stop adding wood. Once it fades into glowing embers, extinguish it by dousing with water. Use a stick to stir the cooled coals and ash and douse again.

Nash said some public parks may have restrictions on campfires during periods of drought, so if you’re planning to cook out, make sure you find out whether fires are allowed before you go.

“You can still use a camp stove, but it does kind of eliminate that weenie roast over the flames,” he said. “If you can’t cook a hot dog or s’mores, it just doesn’t seem like a true camping experience.”

TERMS TO KNOW

Tinder: Dry leaves, dead grass, dry pine needles, wood shavings, newspaper and dryer lint can all be used as tinder because they are lightweight materials that burn quickly and can ignite heavier materials. · Kindling: Dead twigs and small sticks no thicker than an inch or two. These get the fire going and form the base of a fire structure.

Fuel: The larger pieces of wood that keep a fire burning.

Fuzz sticks: Partially shaved sticks with the shavings still attached that can help get a fire going when placed upright among tinder and kindling.

CAMPFIRE SAFETY

Only build fires in designated areas or within a fire ring you have created. Never make a fire near tents or other flammable items. · Never use flammable fluids to start a fire.

Never leave a campfire unattended. Unexpected winds can blow embers out of the fire ring, possibly igniting whatever they land on.

Keep a shovel and pail on hand to douse a fire that gets out of control with water and dirt.

Make sure the fire is completely extinguished before retiring for the night or leaving the area.

WHAT YOU’LL NEED

Newspapers, dry leaves, dead grass or other materials to get the fire started

Small sticks and larger pieces of dry firewood

Matches, kept in a waterproof container

Butane lighter for a flame even when it’s wet out

Small shovel and pail to douse a fire and keep it under control with water or dirt

Non-flammable tarp

Garbage bags (to keep wood dry in the rain)

Fire-starter bricks (in case all else fails!)