How to Light a Campfire in the Rain

You never know when the weather may take a turn for the worse while you are out camping in the deep woods or hiking up the steep mountainous terrain. And if you’re on an extended trip, you’ll run out of instant or ready-to-eat food supplies sooner or later compelling you to stoke a campfire at some stage. Familiarizing yourself with the basics of lighting a fire will go a long way in keeping self warm and cozy as well as preparing meals from scratch in inclement weather when you’re outdoors.

Once you realize that fuel, oxygen, and heat are indispensable elements for igniting a fire and keeping it burning, and take the necessary steps for sourcing the same, you’ll find it easy to light up the campfire in the rain.

What You Will Need for Starting a Campfire in the Rain and the Basics

Starting a campfire or a bonfire in rainy, wet, windy or chilly conditions when you’re deep inside a forest or high up in the mountains could be a backbreaking task. Lighting up is more difficult during the winter season compared to the summer months, when the terra firma tends to be damper, mustier and colder. So, how’d you go about making the job of lighting a fire in rainy or windy conditions a tad easier? Follow these guidelines:-

• Finding dry fuel or tinder-It does not need to be emphasized that you’ll need dry firewood for igniting a fire regardless of the state of weather. However, sourcing bone-dry twigs and tree branches is like looking for a needle in a haystack and is always easier said than done. Start by looking for driftwood, firewood, kindling, stems, shoots, and twigs trapped beneath felled trees or around their stumps.
• Oxygen or air is equally indispensable-You know from experience that there is no way you can start a fire without sufficient oxygen or airflow. In other words, always try to kindle firewood or tinder in the open instead of scooping out a hole and throwing all the kindling inside the recess that may hinder air circulation. Try setting a couple of twigs on fire and allow for the flame to build up by slowly turning the firewood and breathing on them mildly.
• Selecting a sheltered and dry spot-Zeroing in on a location or spot that offers you excellent shelter from the rains, winds, and groundwater helps you in starting a fire fast enough as heat loss is minimal. Igniting a flame early on is essential in cold and wet conditions as it helps preserve body heat thereby keeping hypothermia at bay. At the same time, lighting up a fire accelerates the process of cooking meals and preparing beverages.
• Making preparations for starting a blaze-Once you’ve found a spot that is sufficiently dry, get down to making preparations for lighting up a campfire. The first step that you need to take is to build a small and compact heap comprising dry twigs, papery barks, and stems. Always see to it that there is a conspicuous opening or gap so that you find it easy to set the twigs on fire with a fire starter or matchbox as well as promote air circulation.
• A cigarette lighter, matchboxes, and candles
• Attach copper or aluminum tubes to a rubber hose section that’ll be used as a fire blower
• Carry cotton balls that have been immersed in Vaseline or paraffin wax 

Keep collecting all flammable materials while you trek and break large twigs or stems into small pieces which you can easily tuck inside the pockets of your trousers or jackets. Securing the tinder inside your backpack or in your trouser pockets prevents the same from getting wet as well as keeps you hands-free. Nevertheless, refrain from scraping off bark or branches from trees until and unless you face an emergency situation.

Do not try to light up all collected firewood at one go rather kindle them in installments and also do not throw the remaining tinder once you are successful in starting a flame. Dumping the entire firewood on a flame that is just starting to intensify may snuff out the blaze thereby dampening your efforts (and spoiling your mood at the same time). Be patient enough to let the initial fire burgeon and thereafter keep the blaze going by adding tinder at regular intervals.

It does not need to be exaggerated that keeping yourself well nourished is extremely crucial for furnishing you with the energy and the stamina required for completing the trip. At the cost of reiterating, it is important to mention that you should select a site that is arid so as to prevent dissipation of heat and also avert the flames from being put off due to rain or windiness. In case you fail to find an ideal spot for stoking a fire, you can make an improvised shelter using stones or pebbles that will act as a bulwark against the elements.

Once you’ve got a flame big enough for basking in its warmth and preparing food, it’ll continue to rage despite the wind and rain.

Making multiple heaps before you get started helps save time making piles afresh later on in case the flame from the first pileup dies too quickly. Take the lighter or matchbox close to the center of the heap and strike gently to prevent the matchstick from extinguishing before it makes contact with the firewood. Once a twig catches fire, try to spread the fire to other small tinder surrounding it and let the flame spread.

The flame at this stage is mild which means it can get extinguished any time. So, do not aggravate the possibilities of the fire smothering out by blowing hard or adding heaps of firewood. Add large wood pieces when the flame is blazing steadily and constant. Now, you’ll have more time for collecting additional tinder, warming yourself up, and preparing food.

For starting a campfire in the rain, always pack

• A cigarette lighter, matchboxes, and candles
• Attach copper or aluminum tubes to a rubber hose section that’ll be used as a fire blower
• Carry cotton balls that have been immersed in Vaseline or paraffin wax  

Stepwise Instructions for Lighting a Campfire in the Rain

• Look for a haven that is nicely sheltered from the elements, for instance a bower or a rock face
• Create a heap of tinder and store the same inside your backpack or inside your clothes (in case they’re dry) to accelerate the drying process in case they’re somewhat wet
• Collect more firewood than you might need just in case
• Make a teepee or wigwam like structure with the smallest twigs forming the base and the largest ones the outermost boundary
• Set fire to the heap using a fire starter like a matchbox or cigarette lighter and throw a few Vaseline smeared cotton balls for speeding up the process

Conclusion

If you follow the tips mentioned above, you can bet you will never find yourself in a sticky situation when it comes to starting a campfire in the rain during unpleasant or harsh weather conditions.