How to Light a Fire Safely: A Beginner’s Guide

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Before You Light Anything

The first skill is preparation.

Don’t start collecting wood and lighting matches before you’ve decided whether the fire is actually appropriate.

Is a fire allowed?

Check first.

You may need:

• Permission from the landowner
• Permission from the campsite
• A designated fire area
• Approval from your group or organisation
• To follow temporary fire restrictions

If you’re unsure, don’t light it.

A portable camping stove may be a safer and more appropriate alternative.

Check the weather

Weather can change the risk of an outdoor fire considerably.

Pay particular attention to:

• Strong or changing winds
• Very dry conditions
• Drought
• Hot weather
• Nearby dry vegetation
• Forecast changes during the time you’ll have the fire

Wind is particularly important because sparks and embers can travel away from the fire.

Scouts specifically recommends checking the weather forecast before running a campfire.

Choose a suitable location

A fire needs a safe, clear and appropriate area.

For an organised campfire, use the designated fire area or surface provided by the site.

Keep the fire:

• Away from tents
• Away from low branches
• Away from dry vegetation
• Away from buildings and structures
• Away from anything that could easily catch fire
• In a location with good ventilation

The size of the fire should match the location and the purpose of the activity.

Bigger isn’t better.

Scouts’ current guidance also specifically warns against putting fires directly on concrete because heating can cause the trapped air in the concrete to expand rapidly.

Understand Your Fuel

A fire needs three basic things:

This is often called the fire triangle.

Remove one of the three and the fire will eventually stop.

The Three Stages of Firewood

One of the easiest ways to understand fire lighting is to think about fuel in stages.

Building Your Fire

There are many traditional fire layouts, and different designs have different advantages.

For beginners, the important principle is:

Start small and give the fire enough air to develop.

Arrange your tinder and kindling so that:

• Air can reach the flame
• The small material can catch easily
• Larger fuel can be added gradually
• You aren’t forced to reach over the fire
• The fire remains manageable

You don’t need a huge pile of wood.

A small, controlled fire is easier to light, easier to supervise and easier to extinguish.

Lighting the Fire

Once everything is prepared, lighting should be the quickest part of the process.

Have everything ready first:

Then use an appropriate ignition method according to the activity’s safety rules and the equipment being used.

Never use petrol, lighter fuel, alcohol or other accelerants to make a fire burn faster. Scouts explicitly prohibits accelerants for campfires.

Once the tinder catches, allow the flame to develop before gradually adding suitable kindling.

Don’t rush it.

One of the most common beginner mistakes is adding large pieces of wood too soon.

A fire needs time to build up enough heat.

Give Your Fire Air

If your fire keeps going out, the answer isn’t always more fuel.

It may need more oxygen.

Watch how the fire behaves.

A healthy fire should have a good supply of air around its fuel.

Avoid:

• Smothering the flames
• Packing fuel too tightly
• Building the fire unnecessarily large
• Constantly rearranging burning material

Learning to read the fire is part of becoming a competent firelighter.

Adding More Wood

As the fire develops, add fuel gradually.

Hold wood securely and place it onto the fire rather than throwing it.

Never throw objects into a fire.

Keep your hands, clothing and face away from the flames.

Scouts recommends briefing young people not to reach over fires, wave sticks around them or pick up burning wood, and to place wood onto the fire carefully.

When You’re Finished: Put It Out Properly

A fire isn’t finished when the flames disappear.

Hot embers can remain capable of starting another fire.

When you’re finished:

1. Stop adding fuel.
2. Allow the fire to reduce safely.
3. Douse it thoroughly with water.
4. Check for remaining heat and embers.
5. Continue until the fire is completely out.
6. Leave the area safe and tidy.

Scouts’ current campfire guidance says fires should be safely extinguished and doused with water to prevent stray sparks.

If you’re on a managed site, follow the site’s specific instructions for disposing of ash and restoring the fire area.

Things You Should Never Do

Never:

Fire Lighting: The Skills You Are Really Learning

Lighting a fire isn’t just about making flames.

You’re learning:

These are the skills that make someone a good firelighter.

Your First Fire-Lighting Challenge

The Preparation Challenge

Before lighting a fire, see if you can complete this checklist:

Can you explain why each step matters?

That’s the real challenge.

Scout Connection

Fire lighting and fire safety are useful skills within the Scout programme, but the exact requirements for badges and awards can change.

Scouts currently publishes fire-related activities, including Cautious Campfire, and identifies relevant programme connections.

If you’re working towards a particular badge:

Always check the current official Scouts requirements and speak to your leader.

SurvivalGuidesUK is an independent educational resource and isn’t an official Scouts website.