Check local fire rules and weather conditions
Choose a safe fire site away from tents, trees, and dry brush
Clear the area down to bare soil or use a designated fire ring
Gather tinder, kindling, and firewood in separate piles
Keep water, dirt, or a shovel nearby
Build a small teepee or log cabin structure with tinder in the center
Light the tinder with a match or lighter
Add kindling gradually once the tinder catches
Feed the fire with larger wood after the kindling burns steadily
Never leave the fire unattended
Fully extinguish the fire with water and stir until cold