How to gather & build
- 1Gather all three sizes first — a handful of tinder, an armload of kindling, and a good supply of fuel wood — so you're not scrambling once it's lit.
- 2Make sure it's dry. Bone-dry tinder and kindling are the difference between a fire and a smoky mess; split wood to reach the dry inside if the outside is damp.
- 3Build small to large: a loose ball of tinder, kindling arranged around it teepee-style with space between pieces for air, no fuel yet.
- 4Light the tinder; as the kindling catches and burns brightly, add fuel gradually, a few pieces at a time.
- 5Don't overload it — too much wood at once steals heat from the young flames and can smother the fire. Keep gaps so air can flow.
Remember it as
Tinder, kindling, fuel — small to large, dry as bone.
When to use it
- Every fire you build — cooking, warming, or ceremony — starts with this material progression.
- Wet-weather and no-match fire starting especially depend on excellent, dry tinder.
- Teaching the "why" behind a fire that keeps going out — usually damp material or skipping the size steps.
Common mistakes & safety
- Gather dead and downed wood, not living material. Living wood won't burn well and cutting it harms the area.
- Collect fuel from a wide area away from camp, so you don't strip one spot bare — better for the fire and for Leave No Trace.
- Keep your wood supply back from the flames while you feed the fire — a stray spark in the tinder pile is a problem.
- Never use flammable liquids (gasoline, lighter fluid) to force a stubborn fire. They flare dangerously and cause burns — the fix is drier, smaller tinder and better airflow.
- Air is a fuel too. Most "won't light" fires are packed too tight — loosen it and give it oxygen before adding more wood.
Going deeper
- Why bone-dry matters. Wet material spends the fire's heat boiling off water instead of burning — which is why damp wood smokes and struggles. Splitting exposes the dry inside.
- Where to find dry tinder in wet weather. The underside of logs, dead twigs still attached to trees, inner bark, standing dead wood, and fine shavings from a dry core.
- Prepared backup tinders. Char cloth, cotton with petroleum jelly, dryer lint, and fatwood are reliable when nature's tinder is soaked.
Official source
How to build the best campfire — Scouting Magazine →Gather only dead and downed wood, and confirm fire is allowed before you build.