How to Make a Bonfire Last Longer

Creating a bonfire gives friends and family a way to gather and share quality time together. A bonfire can be designed to create warmth or just serve as a dramatic focal point. A number of different kinds of woods and kindling material can be used for a bonfire. The key to making a bonfire last longer is to build it as high as possible with thick logs and have plenty of additional logs to throw onto the bonfire.

Things You'll Need

  • Large rocks or open container
  • Tinder material, such as twigs, paper, dried leaves or charcoal briquettes
  • Dry wood
  • Matches or lighter
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Instructions

    • 1

      Place a large open metal or ceramic container, such as a fire pit, on level ground. Place a series of large rocks in a circle on level ground to create a natural fire pit if you're not using metal.

    • 2

      Pile tinder material, such as twigs, small wood chunks, dried leaves, dried grass or charcoal briquettes, in a pile in the center of the fire pit.

    • 3

      Add small kindling, consisting of small dried branches and other sticks, on top of the tinder material. Place larger kindling material on top of the smaller kindling material until a large pyramid is formed. Build the pyramid as high as it can be supported. Place several smaller thick logs across the top of the tinder pile.

    • 4

      Create a teepee shape from several long logs. Stand the ends of the logs against the inside edge of the fire pit and have them lean against one another in the center of the fire pit.

    • 5

      Light the pit from the bottom in several spots. Stand back as the logs catch fire. Add additional dry long logs to the fire as needed.