Building a Fire for Cooking

Check the rules before you light anything

Burn rules differ by county, state and season, and they change with dry weather. Some areas ban open fires altogether during high fire danger. Call your local fire department, county or state forestry agency before you light a fire, and follow any burn permit rules.

Do not light a fire on windy or very dry days, even if rules allow it. The risk of a spreading fire can be higher than the rules suggest.

Check insurance and landlord rules too if they apply to you.

Where should the fire go?

Choose a spot away from buildings, fences, dry grass, overhanging branches and fuel storage. Clear the ground to bare soil in a wide circle, and use a fire ring, pit or stove where possible. Keep a bucket of water, a shovel and a hose nearby.

Keep children and pets back from the fire, and never leave it unattended. Tell someone where you are cooking if you are away from home.

Teach children to respect a fire from a distance and to stop, drop and roll if clothing ignites. Practice it before camping season so it is automatic.

• Clear to bare soil around the site
• Away from buildings and overhead branches
• Water and a shovel within reach
• Never leave the fire alone

How do you lay and light a fire?

A fire needs tinder, kindling and fuel wood. Tinder is dry, fine material that catches easily. Kindling is small sticks that catch from the tinder, and fuel wood is the larger pieces that make the fire last. Stack them so air flows through.

Common layouts include a teepee, a log cabin and a lean-to. Light the tinder, add kindling slowly and add larger pieces as the flame grows. Use dry, seasoned wood, and do not use gasoline or other accelerants, which cause severe burns.

A cast iron pan and a sturdy grate are the heart of campfire cooking. Season and care for your cookware as the maker advises, and keep it away from heavy water exposure, which causes rust.

How do you cook over it?

Cook over coals more than flame. Coals give steadier heat and less soot. Let the fire burn down to a bed of coals, then spread them so one area is hotter and another cooler.

A grate, a cast iron pan, a Dutch oven or foil packets all work. Use long tools and heat-resistant gloves, and wear close-fitting clothing, since loose sleeves catch fire easily.

Cook food to the safe temperature your food safety source recommends, and use a thermometer.

How do you keep the fire safe and smoke-free?

Burn clean, dry wood. Never burn treated lumber, plastic, trash or painted wood, which can release harmful fumes. Smoke can trigger asthma and lung problems, so stay upwind and keep children away from heavy smoke.

Do not cook with a charcoal or wood fire inside a tent, camper, garage or home. These fires produce carbon monoxide, which can kill without warning.

Save time and fuel by preparing food ahead. Cut vegetables, mix marinades and wrap foil packets at home so you spend less time at the fire.

• Burn only clean, dry wood
• Stay upwind of the smoke
• Never cook with a fire in an enclosed space

How do you put it out completely?

Allow the fire to burn down, then spread the coals and soak them with water, stirring until no steam rises and the ashes are cool to the touch. Check with the back of your hand, held close but not touching. Do not bury hot coals, because they can smolder and reignite.

Keep checking the site for a while after you leave. A fire that seems out can restart in wind.

• Soak, stir and soak again
• Feel for heat before you leave
• Return later to check the site

What do you do if something goes wrong?

For a burn, cool it under cool running water and seek medical help if it is large, deep or on the face, hands or joints. For a spreading fire, get everyone to safety and call emergency services right away.

Learn basic first aid and keep a kit nearby. Rural response times can be long, so prevention matters most.

Last reviewed: November 12, 2026. Written by the Rural Farm Life Editorial Team. See our editorial policy.