One of the best things about a summer camping trip is sitting around a roaring campfire with your nearest and dearest while putting the world to rights. So, no matter where you’re heading with your tents this summer, setting a campfire that will burn brightly throughout the night is important. To help you out, here are our top tips for building the perfect campfire and our recommendations on the best fuel to take with you.
Choose the ideal site
Your first job is to pick the perfect site for your campfire. Ideally, look for a spot that is at least five metres away from your car and tent, as you need to be careful of embers and sparks. You can then set up your campfire on the grass (if permitted by the site) or by using a raised fire pit that you’ve taken with you. If it’s windy, make sure you set the fire downwind so the smoke doesn’t blow back towards your tent and camping gear.
Prepare your fire pit
Once you’re happy with your chosen site, it’s time to prepare your fire. Begin by bordering the pit with large stones, rocks, or bricks, so you have a confined area to work with. Then, start by placing kindling in the centre of the firepit - you can also weave some of Homefire’s Wood Wool Twizlers into the kindling, which will help the wood catch fire when you strike the match. Once you’ve laid your base, add one or two pieces of wood to the fire, but don’t go overboard at this stage.
Select the right fuel
To ensure your campfire burns long and true throughout the night, you need to select the right fuel to take with you on your camping trip. Our kiln-dried firewood is perfect for campfires and has been dried to a moisture content of 20% or less, reducing its smoke emissions and ensuring it is perfectly legal for domestic burning. Alternatively, you might want to fuel your campfire with our smokeless coal, which is an innovative product made from olive pits and is significantly more environmentally friendly than traditional coal. Whichever fuel you select, be sure to stock up before you leave home, so you don’t have to scour the countryside for the right fuel to keep your fire going throughout the evening.
Maintain your fire responsibly
Once you have lit your campfire, it’s important to maintain it. Instead of throwing on logs every five minutes, you should only add fuel as and when it’s required. When your fire reduces to small flames and glowing embers, it’s time to add another one or two logs, which will catch fire and keep the flames going. If you add too many logs to your fire without regard for how it’s burning, things could get easily out of hand, and you will struggle to maintain the fire for the duration of your stay at the campsite.
Now that you’re armed with our top tips for setting and maintaining your campfire this summer, it’s time to pick up the right fuel. Our handy firepit bundle is ideal for loading into your car as you set off on your summer camping trip and will help you get your campfire started in no time at all. If you’re planning a summer BBQ alongside your campfire, check out our BBQ charcoal options to ensure your summer camping trip is memorable for all the right reasons.