Make a campfire like a pro – the most important information at a glance

Not only does making a fire make the experience in nature much more intense and authentic - in addition to the purely visual advantages, it can also be a major factor in whether you survive in the wilderness or not. A fire warms you up, has been proven to increase motivation, repels dangerous animals and insects and ensures that you don't have to eat hunted or caught animals raw in an emergency.

No matter how ultra-modern people sometimes appear, or consciously want to appear, something as original and fundamental as a fire quickly makes you realize that you are not actually as important as you always think. It shows you that small and seemingly unimportant things like a campfire are actually more important to us and trigger more in us than we thought. In the following report, WOLFGANGS shows you how to make a campfire like a pro and what you need to bear in mind. This will make your next outdoor trip something very special.

The right preparation

We have already discussed how you can make a fire without a draft in a previous post. However, to ensure that your next campfire is a complete success, that it burns for a long time and also covers safety points well, intensive preparation and planning is also crucial. Simply creating embers and a flame is one thing. But making a campfire covers many other points that you should definitely keep in mind during your outdoor adventure.

In preparation, the following points should be considered:

• Focus on wind protection : Only a fire place that is protected from the wind can ensure that the flames do not break out into an uncontrollable inferno. A windy position would not only ensure that the fire is constantly lit and therefore burns faster, but flying sparks could also pose a danger to people and equipment. Therefore, always try to ensure that there is sufficient wind protection.

• Be careful with wet stones: When choosing a suitable windbreak, leave wet stones out of the equation for now, as they could become a further danger. Due to the effect of the high heat, wet stones in particular tend to quickly build up tension inside, which could discharge. These cracked stones can therefore quickly become dangerous projectiles. If you let the stones dry first at a safe distance from the flames, you don't have to worry.

• Choosing a fire pit: Just because an area looks safe doesn't mean that it is. Soft, loose soil in particular tends to sink when used as a campfire area. This allows the embers to spread unhindered to the roots in the ground and cause a root fire. Make sure it is fireproof so that this risk is kept as low as possible.

Campfire like a pro - choosing the right fuel

Have you ever held a lighter flame to a tree trunk or a thick branch for a long time? As you probably noticed, you were still miles away from a real fire after the action was over. " As you can see, you can't see anything !"

A fire is not just a meeting of flames and wood, but rather a well-planned sequence of crucial events and materials that ultimately create the desired flames. Always try to keep your eyes open for suitable fuel in nature, as this can make lighting the fire incredibly easy:

• For example, dandelion seeds are ideal for use as tinder, but thistles and dried cattails can also have a remarkable effect. Of course, you shouldn't forget the " classics " like leaves and grasses. When dried, they can easily be used as tinder material and start the fire.

• The purpose of the kindling material is to maintain the fire created with the tinder and to allow it to " grow " before it is nipped in the bud and fades away. Be sure to grab the " king of kindling " if you see him in nature. Spruce twigs have the advantage that they burn incredibly well even when wet , as they are filled with lots of dead and dried twigs that have no moisture at all. If you can't find them, there's no need to panic. Of course, thin branches and twigs are also fantastic.

• The actual fuel is the type of material that is used to keep the campfire going for a long time. Collect branches, sticks, twigs and logs of any thickness and use them to keep your dreamy flames alive.

Building the campfire

The structure is very important for the success of a campfire. To keep the chances of a successful campfire as high as possible, you should always make sure in advance that the contact with the ground is " damped " by a resistant layer.

This base not only has the advantage of pushing back any moisture that may rise from the ground, but it is also largely responsible for the increased heat development. A few thick branches lined up next to each other are completely sufficient as a base and serve their purpose. This is very advantageous because the tinder material placed on top can then start to burn more easily.

Always try to ensure that the tinder material is placed on the base in such a way that nothing stands in the way of embers forming later on. Then place the kindling material in a pyramid-like formation around the tinder material to ensure additional burning safety.

Whether it's spruce twigs, sticks or branches - just make sure that everything is nice and close together and that there aren't any gaps that are too big. You can fine-tune the fire even further by forming the smaller, more flammable branches all around. Don't forget to leave a small spot open so that you can light the fire later.