One of the most important outdoor survival skill to have is an understanding of how to safely build a fire pit. Learning this skill gives you the know-how to keep warm and cook food in cold weather, not to mention, acting as a line of defense from other animals.

1. (Without Getting Injured)
By Ken Jensen

2. • One of the most important
outdoor survival skill to have is
an understanding of how to
safely build a fire pit.
• Learning this skill gives you the
know-how to keep warm and
cook food in cold weather, not to
mention, acting as a line of
defense from other animals.

3. • It’s advised that you clear out at least
a 10-foot area around your fire pit. To
do this, remove any tree limbs, grass,
and leaves from the clearing around
your fire pit.
• You can always use a hoe to better clear out this
area. However, while doing this it's important that
you do not disturb any current ecosystems or
homes of other emails.

4. • Decide how big your fire pit should be,
then start digging! However, aim to have
your fire pit to be at least one foot deep
(1.5 feet is ideal).
• Most people use a shovel to dig their fire
pit, but we found it more helpful to first
use a how to loosen the dirt, and then
start digging.

5. • You should outline your fire
pit with rocks to prevent your
fire from spreading past the pit.
• It’s best to look for large rocks
to rest a fire poker on, and
further prevent any sparks from
igniting the grass outside your
fire pit.
• Rocks that you should not use
include limestone and chalks
since the heat from your fire
can break them down.

6. • Tinder is commonly known as the easiest and smallest tool to help
get your fire going include: wax, lint, fire starters, cardboard and
wood shavings.
• Kindling is the next step up from kindling and usually consist of
small branches or twigs.
• Firewood is the fuel of the fire. This type of wood should be one to
five inches in diameter and can be anything from whole to split logs.
• Matches & lighters are your tools to light your fire.

7. • You can now get warm or
cook a delicious meal.

8. 1. Pour water on all of your logs, including
embers, until it stops hissing.
2. Stir your campfire remains with a shovel to
leave no flame or ember unturned.
3. Scrape off embers on remaining logs and
drench them with water.
4. Keep stirring your fire until everything is
cool to the touch.
5. If you’re out of water, feel free to use dirt.
Mix the dirt with the embers until they
turn dark. It’s important that you do not
bury your fire and mix it instead. If you
bury it, your fire will keep on soldering and
catch tree roots on fire, which may spread
to a wildfire.
6. If you're hunting small animals you'll need
to build a fire that is at least 2 feet wide in
order to cook them properly.

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