Keeping camp - Camping - page 99

Building a fire

This hunter's fire is primarily designed to cook on,
providing a lot of embers quickly, but it can also be
adapted to last for warmth as well. The thicker logs
either side are there to support a pan. If you want to
sit by the fire at night, then use thicker kindling, or
keep feeding it with more sticks to keep it going,
you'll need plenty, but that's all just part of the fun.

1

First lay two thick logs
parallel to each other.
These can also be placed
in a “v” shape. The idea is
that they should be able
to support your pan.

Lighting fires
There are several methods for
lighting a fire, but most campers
would rather see the thing ablaze
than struggle with a flint or a
magnifying glass. To light a fire
easily, use a firelighter, or
something like egg boxes and
paper, plus some twigs and dry
grass as tinder and apply a match
or lighter. Windproof lighters are a
good idea if you camp in a windy
area. Always have a back-up.

2

Start building layers of sticks
between the logs. Each layer
should be at right angles to
the last. As the construction
grows, you can place tinder
in the central space.