Environment Planet Earth 5 Ways to Build a Campfire By Ben Bolton Writer University of Georgia Ben Bolton has covered athletics for several universities. He has since embarked on a career as a digital editor, creating media campaigns for major brands. our editorial process Ben Bolton Updated October 24, 2019 Share Twitter Pinterest Email Planet Earth Outdoors Weather Conservation There is nothing like sitting around a beautiful campfire with friends. So don't be that person who goes camping but doesn't know how to build a proper fire. You probably know how to start a basic fire (from our helpful how-to guide), but it's time to flex your "Survivorman" muscles and dig deeper into this skill. The video above details some of the best ways to build a campfire. You'll need tinder (no, not the app), kindling, fuel and oxygen to get started. After that, it's up to you to figure out which of these scenarios best fits your needs. Log cabin: This is your basic build. Teepee When speed is of the essence, try this one. Pyramid Try this one when Mother Nature is being difficult — i.e. it's wet. Lean-to And speaking of being difficult, if the winds are acting up, try this one. Star And if you don't have all the ingredients — and that never happens, right? — this style of camp fire sidesteps the problem.