How to Use Kindling to Start a Fire

Choosing the right kindling when you prepare to start a fire is important for success. How you use the kindling when you start your fire affects the quality of the fire. Learn how to properly use kindling to start and maintain a fire.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

1. Know that kindling is the basic building block of fire starting. Kindling includes small sticks, dry grasses, shaved wood, dry leaves and bits of paper. Gather a good supply of kindling dependent on how long you want your fire to last. Choose different sizes of kindling to use throughout the fire building and maintaining process. Small pieces of kindling are great for starting fires; kindling that is larger in size is good for fueling fires.

2. Use larger sticks to build a tepee shape. Place some dry, soft-wood kindling within the tepee to create the central part of the fire that ignites first and can maintain the fire. Soft woods--like pine--are good to use as kindling because they ignite fast and burn hot.

3. Light a larger piece of your kindling on fire and place it in the middle of the tepee, on top of your smaller pile of kindling. The kindling should ignite quickly. Eventually, the tepee of sticks will catch fire, which causes the sticks to fall onto the initial bed of kindling.

Tips & Warnings

• Avoid wet kindling. It won't ignite and if it does, the fire won't last and can create an excessive amount of smoke.
• Always extinguish fires thoroughly when you are done to ensure your safety and the safety of the surroundings.