Campfire Styles

The type of campfire you build depends on how quickly you need a source for heat, light or cooking and how long you want the fire to last. As long as you have a reliable fire source, dry tinder to give it a strong start and enough logs to keep it going, any campfire style will work.

  1. Star Fire

    • Also called an Indian fire, this is the style often seen in old western movies. Lay five logs on the ground like points of a star, evenly spaced, with a hub in the center. Light the center of the star by igniting the ends of each log. As the fire burns, push the logs from the perimeter to the center. You can keep the fire burning indefinitely by replacing the logs as they burn or let it extinguish itself.

    Tepee Style

    • Tepee campfires are the easiest and quickest to build. Pile the fuel source loosely on the ground and balance three branches or twigs against the base and against each other to create the shape of a tepee, with a hole in the top. When the fuel is lighted, the hole lets air naturally draw the heat upward and ignites the sides. A tepee fire can be a quick, temporary source of heat or built up with larger pieces of wood to last for hours.

    Pyramid/Platform Fire

    • If you want a fire that produces maximum coals and lasts a long time, a pyramid fire is a good choice. Build a base from large logs laid next to each other on their sides. Lay a slightly shorter log perpendicularly across the base. Repeat the process, making each layer slightly smaller than the last, until the pyramid is complete. Light the top layer; the fire will burn downward and create a pile of coals as it progresses. For a shorter-lasting fire that is easier to start, create a pyramid by stacking the logs in walls, leaving the center open. Fill the open middle with kindling and ignite it. If desired, this style can be used as a platform for building a larger fire by adding logs on top.

    Parallel Style

    • To build a fire that supports pots and pans for cooking, lay two logs on the ground close enough to each other to keep the pots suspended. For gentle heating, ignite the logs and use the heat to warm the pans from either side. You can increase the intensity of the heat by adding smaller pieces of wood in between the two larger logs. Placing logs on either end of the center fire helps control the fire's temperature by regulating the air flow it receives.