There’s nothing like spending a night outside with the stars above and a cozy campfire nearby. This means that your food will always be hot, you’ll never be cold, and you’ll have a source of light. But campfires are not always appropriate, safe, or allowed in every campsite.
Sure, there are some tips on ways to build a campfire safely, but even the best campfire can get out of hand and cause a bushfire. So, how do you avoid this? By knowing the different types of campfires and when to use them. If you’re ready to learn, let’s go.
13 Types of Campfires and when to use them?
1. Teepee Campfire
This is one of the most popular campfires out there, and it’s very easy to build. So, if you’re a beginner, this should be one of the campfires you’ll need to learn. It’s also easy to add more sticks to make the fire last longer since it’s kind of standing.
But, because this fire consumes wood very fast, you’ll need to watch it a lot. To build one, all you need is to place your tinder on the ground and then stack some kindling around it.
Next, build an inverted cone over your kindling out of smaller sticks. But make sure you leave a gap so u can still get to your tinder, then light up the fire from the middle.
2. Log Cabin Campfire
If you need a campfire that can burn for a long time without stressing you out, then you need to build a log cabin campfire. Cos the best thing about a log cabin fire is that once it’s all lit, you can leave it to burn and it won’t need to add more fuel for some time. But how do you build one?
By placing two logs in your pit parallel to each other, then stacking more on top until you get to your desired height, place kindling in the center square, and ignite it.
3. Star Campfire
Star campfires are easy to make, but they only work when you have very dry logs to burn. They are also very good for cooking while outdoors, and since they burn slowly, it is also surprisingly fuel-efficient.
To build it, you need to make a small teepee fire with kindling, then arrange four to five logs around it, one end in the fire and the other end leading away just like a star.
4. Lean-to Campfire
Lean-tos are one of the easiest types of campfires you can make, especially if you’re camping in a windy environment. Lean-to campfires are flat, so they are great for cooking and even grilling with a pan.
They’re also very easy to light up, so to build one, you’ll need to place a large log on its side and put some tinder and kindling next to sticks on the log with the other end resting on the ground. Then light up. Once the fire is on, you’ll need to add more sticks so the fire can last.
5. A-frame Campfire
As a beginner, this is one of the best and smallest campfires that you’ll need to know to survive a night outdoors. And since it doesn’t need many items to start, it should be easy for you. To build one, just simply lay three sticks on the ground to form an A-shape or triangle.
Then place your tinder and kindling in the center and light them. The flames will spread, gradually to the larger sticks, and then you can feed the fire with more fuel as it begins to catch up.
6. Long Fire
This is the best campfire to build when you have only long sticks and logs to use, with no way of cutting them. And since it’s known as a parallel fire, this wouldn’t be a problem for you. To build a long fire, just place two logs a few feet apart, so they are parallel.
Put your tinder and kindling between these two logs, and then lay sticks across the space. Next, you’ll need to light the tinder, and don’t forget to add more sticks before you light up.
7. Long-burning Campfire
A lot of people, most times, put out their campfire before going to sleep, but sometimes you may want to leave the fire burning all night, maybe for warmth or even a signal fire. That’s why a long-burning campfire is one of the best campfires. To make one, all you need is to build ramps a few feet apart and just stack logs against them.
Then, build any campfire of your choice between those two ramps of logs and light up your fire. So, how does this work? The logs on the ramp will burn first, and then the next one should drop down into the fire and keep burning.
8. Platform Fire
This campfire is best built only when you have an abundance of fuel available. You can also use this campfire if you want to dry some damp wood you can use for a campfire another night. So, to build it, place a layer of logs on the ground, place the tinder and kindling.
Then place another layer of logs, but this time in the opposite direction. Again, put some kindling between the logs. Then build the fire up a couple more levels and light up the middle.
9. Reflector Fire
Most times, when camping, the heat of the campfire goes away from you. But not this one. The reflector campfire ensures that the heat leaves and is directed at you. So, you can use this method to build a campfire to make it more efficient, and it can act as a windbreak.
To make this, you just need two sticks, then place them into the ground so they are close together. Do the same process on the other side, light up, and build a wall to reflect the heat of the fire toward you.
10. Swedish Fire Torch
The Swedish fire torch is possibly the least common type of campfire you’re more likely to build when camping, but that doesn’t mean it’s not as important as the other campfires on this list. In fact, it is a very long-lasting fire, just that it’s kinda hard to build. To build one, find a dead tree stump and split it, fill your cuts with tinder and kindling, and then just light it up.
11. Trench Fire
Unlike other types of campfires on this list, a trench fire is built below the ground. So it protects the fire from the wind and is the least likely type of campfire to accidentally spread or even get out of control.
To make one, you’ll need to dig up a shallow pit or trench for your fire to be in. The trench should be slightly bigger than intended. Then you can go ahead to place rocks around the edges of your trench for your cooking grill to rest on.
12. Keyhole Campfire
When it comes to outdoor cooking and warmth, not all campfires are built the same. This statement rings true for the keyhole campfire. To build one, you’ll need to dig a shallow pit that is round at one end and has a tail at the other, so it looks just like a keyhole.
Then you can decide to line the edges of your pit with rocks, so the fire stays inside the circle. This campfire is useful perfect, and simple for a large camping group.
13. Dakota Hole Fire
Dakota hole fire is used to provide smokeless fires that are also fuel-efficient. They’re great for cooking, but you’ll need to be patient while building them, especially if it’s your first time. To build one, first dig a hole that is about one foot deep but a bit wider at the bottom.
Next, dig another hole at about 45-degree angle. Set your fire at the bottom of the first. Then you’ve got yourself a Dakota hole fire campfire.
Conclusion
Campfires aren’t just about warmth, whether you’re cooking a meal or even sharing stories under the stars, choosing the right campfire style and knowing when you use it makes all the difference. But to do this properly, you’ll need to do it safely too.
So, before you build a campfire at your campsite, know the rules and regulations. Then, pick which of the campfires on this list is easy for you to build and more suitable to take you all through your night. So next time you go camping, light up wisely.
