If there’s one thing that I’ve learned from my time camping, it’s that nothing kills your vibe faster than a fire that won’t stay lit.
You try and try, but no matter what you do, it keeps dying out.
This can be incredibly frustrating, especially if you’re trying to cook over the fire, or warm up on an icy winter night.
The good news is that most causes of a dying fire are simple.
They are also fixable.
Here’s exactly what to do the next time your campfire goes out, and how you can get it burning strong again.
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1. Check Your Wood, It May Be Too Wet
Wet wood is the number one reason why a fire fails to get started.
Instead of burning nicely, wet wood sort of just sizzles and steams.
Not what you want.
When building a fire at your campsite, look for dry, cracked wood (it will burn better), and store any excess wood somewhere dry where it won’t be affected by the elements.
If you’re storing wood long-term, try covering it with a tarp to keep it dry, especially when camping in the rain, and check the weather so you can be prepared.
2. Try Rebuilding the Fire with Better Airflow
Fires need oxygen to burn, even if your wood is perfect and dry.
A fire that isn’t getting enough airflow will eventually choke itself out and die, leaving you in the cold.
Make sure your fire is arranged well.
Log cabin structures or teepees are great ways to stack your fire if you want a consistent flow of oxygen, and they are simple to make.
Tip: If you can’t see any light from your fire, it’s probably packed too tightly.
3. Add Smaller Pieces (Kindling)
Fires need to build their heat gradually.
Moving from tinder to large wood too fast is a surefire way to end up with a dead fire.
Work your way from small pieces to larger ones as you go, and let the fire dictate when it is ready to grow.
Twigs, birch bark, and small branches can be great for getting flames going again.
4. Shield the Wind
Wind can blow out weak flames before they have the chance to grow strong and sustain themselves.
To fix this, try building some kind of barrier as a wind shield.
Tents, coolers, or wood piles can be good makeshift wind blockers.
Just make sure you don’t put your tent too close to the fire, they are made from flammable material!
5. Clean Out Your Ashes
Too many ashes in your fire ring can cut off airflow from underneath.
This in turn smothers your ember base, which is the most important part of your fire.
Scoop out your old ashes regularly (and dispose of them properly) to make room for the fire to build.
6. Use a Fire Bellows
Sometimes, to get your fire going, you’ll need to give it a little boost.
Tools like a fire bellows can help you blow oxygen into the base of the fire where you need it, fueling the flames.
The one we have is lightweight and portable, collapsing down to pencil size to fit into your pack.
It is by far our most useful tool when we build our fires, and I highly recommend you pick one up.
You can check out a more detailed post on fire bellows here if you want to learn more!
7. Try Adding Your Wood Slower
Adding wood to the fire too fast will actually slow it down, not build it up.
Slow down your fueling for better results.
If your fire shrinks when you add a log, it probably means you added it too soon.
Let the fire grow hotter first, then feed it gradually.
Final Thoughts: Fires are Hard, Don’t Stress!
Building a fire can be a struggle, especially if your wood and the weather are not cooperating.
Keep trying, keep learning, and you’ll start to see yourself getting better with every camping trip.
Remember- At the end of the day, a long-lasting campfire needs three things to thrive: dry wood, steady airflow, and a gradual build up.
Get those right, and your fire will stay lit, even in less than perfect conditions.
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