When the sun goes down at the campground, thoughts of swimming and fishing at the lake are replaced by storytelling and roasting marshmallows around the campfire. Being able to build a campfire that will give off enough heat and last the entire evening can be a challenge, but with practice, you can build a campfire that keeps everyone cozy while you spend quality time with your friends and family.

Before it gets too dark, start gathering the materials you will need for your fire—tinder, kindling and logs or other types of fuel.

Tinder is what will get your fire started (with the help of a few matches or a lighter). It is the flammable material that catches the spark or flame and carries it to the kindling. Good sources of tinder include dry plants and grasses, tree bark, moss, wood shavings, and paper. Make sure you have enough on hand to keep that initial flame going especially if your kindling is damp. The tinder will have to burn long enough to dry the wet kindling.

You’ll need lots of kindling to get a fire like this going.

The next part of your fire to burn will be the kindling, and it needs to produce enough sustained heat and flame to light the fire’s fuel. Look for kindling that has a 1/8” to ½” thickness and a larger surface area than the tinder. Try twigs or cardboard or carefully chop large pieces of wood into smaller pieces.

The fuel is the last to catch, but will burn slowly and steadily for a long period of time. While dry logs will start burning quicker, green or damp wood will actually burn slower once the kindling’s heat has dried it. The type of wood also determines the burn time. Softwood catches relatively quickly, but also burns out faster than hardwood. Once hard wood catches fire, it will burn long and hot.

Now that you have your fire material, it is time to prepare the fire pit. Most campsites will come equipped with a fire ring, but if you are roughing it or don’t have a fire ring, start by clearing a four-foot diameter area and surrounding it with rocks to help insulate the fire.

Layer the fire pit with tinder. Using matches or a lighter, light the tinder on the upwind side so the wind blows the flame into the flame into the fuel. Add the kindling, being sure to space the kindling loose enough for air to circulate but still close enough for the flame to spread. Slowly blow the igniting flame to build heat and intensity. As the fire grows, gradually increase the size of the kindling, and eventually start adding your fuel logs one piece at a time from smallest to biggest.

Always keep a bucket of water, shovel or fire extinguisher close by in case the fire catches something outside of your fire pit. Never leave the fire unattended, and completely extinguish it when finished.