How to build and put out a campfire
To build a campfire, check that fires are allowed, use an existing fire ring, and build from small to large: a fist of dry tinder, a teepee of thumb-thick kindling, then wrist-thick wood once it catches. To put it out, drown it with water, stir the ashes, and feel for heat with the back of your hand. Repeat until everything is cold.
About 20 minutes to learnTake care: injury or damage if careless
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How to do it
- Check the fire danger and any burn ban with the ranger station or campground before you go.
- Use an existing fire ring, away from tents, overhanging branches and dry grass, and clear the ground around it.
- Keep a bucket of water and a shovel beside the fire before you light it.
- Put a loose ball of dry tinder, such as dry grass or paper, in the center.
- Lean pencil-thin and then thumb-thick kindling around it in a teepee, leaving a gap on the windward side to light.
- Light the tinder, blow gently at the base, and add wrist-thick wood only once the kindling is burning well.
- Keep the fire small and never leave it unattended, even for a minute.
- To put it out, drown it with water, stir the ashes and embers, drown again, and feel for heat with the back of your hand until it is cold.
Stop and call a professional if
- The fire escapes the ring into grass or brush and you cannot put it out in seconds: leave the area and call 911.
- Fire danger is high or a ban is in place: do not light one; use a camp stove if allowed.
- Anyone is burned beyond a small patch: cool it with water and get medical help.
Common mistakes
- Piling on big logs before the kindling has caught, which smothers it.
- Using gasoline or lighter fluid to get it going.
- Burying a fire with dirt, which can keep embers smoldering for days.
- Leaving camp with ashes that are still warm.
Quick self-check
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Teach this to someone
A one-page sheet for showing a friend, a roommate or a kid: what to say, what to show, and one question to check it landed.
Teach: How to build and put out a campfire
What to say
To build a campfire, check that fires are allowed, use an existing fire ring, and build from small to large: a fist of dry tinder, a teepee of thumb-thick kindling, then wrist-thick wood once it catches. To put it out, drown it with water, stir the ashes, and feel for heat with the back of your hand. Repeat until everything is cold.
What to show, in order
- Check the fire danger and any burn ban with the ranger station or campground before you go.
- Use an existing fire ring, away from tents, overhanging branches and dry grass, and clear the ground around it.
- Keep a bucket of water and a shovel beside the fire before you light it.
- Put a loose ball of dry tinder, such as dry grass or paper, in the center.
- Lean pencil-thin and then thumb-thick kindling around it in a teepee, leaving a gap on the windward side to light.
- Light the tinder, blow gently at the base, and add wrist-thick wood only once the kindling is burning well.
- Keep the fire small and never leave it unattended, even for a minute.
- To put it out, drown it with water, stir the ashes and embers, drown again, and feel for heat with the back of your hand until it is cold.
When to stop and call a professional
- The fire escapes the ring into grass or brush and you cannot put it out in seconds: leave the area and call 911.
- Fire danger is high or a ban is in place: do not light one; use a camp stove if allowed.
- Anyone is burned beyond a small patch: cool it with water and get medical help.
The check question
Ask: How do you know a campfire is out?
Related skills
Sources
- National park and forest service visitor safety guidance, current edition. Checked September 28, 2026.
Last reviewed . First published .