A bonfire will be an attractive decoration during an outdoor get-together. The warm and exciting flames of the bonfire will provide a sense of relaxation for everyone around. Making a campfire is a fun and easy task, and requires only dry wood and open space.
Step
Part 1 of 3: Preparing the Hole
Step 1. Clean the place for the fire pit
Fire pits must be made on bare ground. If you're in a location that has a dedicated fire pit area (such as a campsite), build a fire there. If you are in an uninhabited area, clear flammable forest items at least 2.5 meters away, and make a bonfire in the vacated area.
Do not make fire pits directly under tree branches or overhanging plants
Step 2. Dig a hole
Scrape the area to be used as a bonfire. The center-where the fire will be made-must be a little deeper to keep the fire under control and the coals to have a place to fall.
- A deeper hole will also allow the wood to fall toward the center instead of outward.
- Clean the remaining ashes from the previous bonfire. That way, the new bonfire will have a clean base to start with.
Step 3. Create a border with stones
Place the stone around the area where you want to make a bonfire. The stone will hold the bonfire while also providing a boundary between the wood being burned and other flammable objects.
Step 4. Prepare a fire extinguisher
It's a good idea to have a fire extinguisher nearby when building a campfire. You can also put a bucket or two of water in there. Water can be a backup to put out a fire quickly if necessary.
Part 2 of 3: Lighting a Fire
Step 1. Gather some kind of tinder and twigs
Wedges or vows are flakes of dry matter that can catch fire quickly. Items like dry leaves, dry bark, dry grass, and dry wood chips are all good things to start a fire with. Meanwhile, twigs are larger (but still relatively small) pieces of wood that can also burn quickly. Items such as branches and sticks (the size of a finger) are suitable materials for starting a fire.
- It's a good idea to have tinder and twigs ready when you're making a campfire as they can help start a large fire and firewood.
- Weeds and twigs must be dry. Wet items are unlikely to catch fire.
- If the environment in which you are setting up a bonfire is damp and damp, bring your own lighters from home. Items such as rolls of newsprint, torn cardboard, and dryer lint are great alternatives.
Step 2. Collect firewood
Walk around the forest and collect pieces of wood that are about as wide and as long as your arm. The size can vary, but the wood to be used as fuel for a bonfire must be the largest and thickest. Firewood must be relatively dry, so do not choose wood that is very flexible and overgrown with moss.
- Burning wet wood will only produce a lot of smoke.
- Collect about 20-25 sticks of firewood. With plenty of wood, you'll have a supply and can easily add it to the fire if needed.
Step 3. Make a pile of tinder
Place the tinder in the center of the fire pit. Make a tinder layer 0.1 m² wide.
Step 4. Arrange the branches
Arrange and lean the branches against each other to form a pyramid. Place more twigs until the pyramid structure is solid. Then, add larger pieces of firewood to create a larger structure.
- There are many ways to create a campfire structure (like a pyramid, a tent with an open “door”, shaped like a jenga with an empty center, stacked from top to bottom, crosswise, etc.), depending on what the fire is intended to be used for. Campfires are usually lit for a short period of time for certain celebrations. There is also a bonfire made for cooking or providing warmth for a long time. Bonfires like this are usually arranged in the form of a large pyramid.
- Leave a gap between the wood that forms the walls of the pyramid so the wind can blow. You can use this gap to light a twig in the middle of a pile of firewood, as well as give room for the wind to blow into a smoldering fire.
Step 5. Turn on the fire
Use a match or lighter to light a twig through a gap in the firewood pile. You can also light the twig from the other side.
Once the fire is on and the wood starts to crumble, add more firewood to it. Stay awake and maintain the pyramid structure and don't let any part of your body get too close to the fire
Part 3 of 3: Extinguishing the Bonfire
Step 1. Sprinkle water over the fire
Sprinkle water over the fire, instead of pouring a full bucket of water. By sprinkling water, the fire will be extinguished little by little. If water is poured all at once, the bonfire will be flooded and become too wet for later use.
Step 2. Stir in the ashes
Use a stick to stir the ashes as you sprinkle water on the fire. By stirring the ashes, you are making sure that all the coals are moistened and the fire is extinguished.
Step 3. Feel the heat
Turn your palms over and feel the residual heat on the ashes. If the heat still emanates from the former bonfire, it means the ashes are still too hot to leave. Continue sprinkling water and stirring. Once the ashes are no longer hot, the bonfire is completely extinguished.
