Step 1: Safe Fire Place

Safety FIRST!

Camp fire must be made outside the equipment or vegetation (specially bushes and trees) reach. Don't start fire under the trees. Take special precocious when camping near spruce or fir forest. Their roots are close to the surface and spread far away from tree and can easily start to smolder and burst into flames meters away (check this especially when dry weather or drought conditions occur).

Clean all leaves and dry plant material from the floor, until you reach soil.

Place stones in a circle or any other shape you want. Circle should be at least 60 cm (2 foot) in diameter.

Use branches that are 50% smaller than diameter of stone circle.

Stones are not necessary if:
* If you use Dakota fire pit
* you build your fire in snow
* very wet environment and no vegetation around (at least 3 m (10 feet))

Have at least 3 L (0.80 gallon) of water nearby, or running source (stream) in emergency extinguishing case. You can use dirt, sand or blanket too, but prepare it before you kindle.

Step 2: Building Base

You build up base as a cube pile of branches. Length is optional (best results start from 45 cm (1.5 feet) up), 3 to 8 floors up.
If you want to prolong it, mix some fresh or rotten branches between dry wood.