How to Start a Fire  By Tony Ledenko

Starting a Fire:

1.    Where permitted, gather firewood. You want to collect everything from dry leaves,  twigs, to small sticks, to branches up to 2-4 inches in diameter.
 
2.    If a fire ring is not already available, clear an area that's away from any trees or brush.

3.    Place a small pile of dry leaves and twigs in the center of the fire ring.

4.    Build a tepee of small sticks around these dry leaves and twigs.
 
5    .Next, build a square wall of larger sticks around, and up to the height of, the tepee.
 
6.    Place more sticks across the walls so as to cover the tepee.
 
7.    Add another wall of larger branches, but do not cover the top.
 
8.    Drop a match or two into the dry leaves and twigs until they catch fire.
 
9.    As the fire begins to spread, add some larger branches across the top, being careful not to collapse the existing walls of the fire.
 
10.  Continue to add larger branches and pieces of wood to keep the campfire going.

Tips:

 
1    .Don't build a bonfire; campfires do not have to be large to be enjoyable.
 
2.    Do not use flammables such as charcoal lighter, gas, or kerosene to start a fire.
 
3.    Do not burn "green" wood, it has too much sap, and will burn slowly and pop. Also, do not cut any wood from standing trees.