How to Have a Bonfire

Co-authored by Ky Furneaux

Last Updated: November 27, 2024

Bonfires provide a great atmosphere for outdoor events such as parties or Halloween celebrations. And as long as they are conducted safely and comply with any local or governmental regulations, they are relatively easy to organize. Just don't forget your marshmallows!

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^{[1]
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Research source} It could be in your backyard or a friend's backyard. It could be on a beach, or at a campsite.
Be sure to have plenty of large pieces of fuel wood, as twigs and leaves burn very quickly.^{[2]
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^{[3]
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Research source} The pit should be the size of the fire that you want to have; somewhere between 50 centimeter (19.7 in) x 50 centimeter (19.7 in) and 1 meter (3.3 ft) x 1 meter (3.3 ft) is reasonable.
This will keep your fire from spreading outside of your pit.^{[4]
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Arrange the woods,twigs or wood sticks standing like a pyramid and place the leaves under.^{[5]
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Use any fire igniter such as fire lighters and start with the leaves under.
Standing around a fire is okay, but people will probably want to sit eventually. It's always good to grab a few picnic rugs, and maybe a day tent to sit in. This is extra good if you're on a beach.
There is nothing better than sipping on an ice cold beer, energy drink, hot chocolate or a can of coke while sitting around a bonfire. The best way to keep the rest of the beer cold is to bring a cooler with plenty of ice in it. This will come in handy later, when you put out the fire.
Thawed hot dogs are good, as are candies that you and your friends like. Marshmallows are a classic addition to any bonfire.
When you're ready to go back in, dump the remaining ice and water from your cooler over the fire, throw sand on it, stomp on it, or otherwise extinguish it completely. By the time you leave, it should be cool to the touch.

Expert Q&A

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Question

How can I easily start a fire?

Ky Furneaux
Survival and Outdoors Expert
Ky Furneaux is a survival expert, outdoor guide, and professional stuntwoman based in Australia. She’s been featured in over 100 films and TV productions, and has hosted, produced, and participated in some of the most extreme TV survival shows including MTV’s Made and Discovery’s Naked and Afraid. She has authored 5 survival books, including "The Superwoman’s Survival Guide" and "Survive: The All-In-One Guide to Staying Alive in Extreme Conditions", with the goal of sharing her knowledge of survival techniques with others. As an accomplished stuntwoman, she won a Taurus Award in 2012 for Best Female Stunt Performer and has doubled stars like Jennifer Garner, Anne Hathaway, Jaime Alexander, and Sharon Stone.

Ky Furneaux

Survival and Outdoors Expert

Expert Answer

The key is finding the right tinder. Tinder catches a spark and gets the fire going, so it needs to be dry and really fine. Something airy and a fluffy material like coconut husk or the insides of a bird's nest is perfect. One common mistake is trying to start a fire with bigger sticks or wet leaves, but they won’t catch a spark as easily. Instead, grab your tinder and break it down by rubbing it between your hands to create small, fluffy bits. This makes it much easier to spark. If you're using a ferro rod, hold the striker steady on the ground and pull the rod away from it. This helps keep the tinder in place and makes it easier to aim the sparks where you need them.

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I'm a teen and my parents don't like parties, but I want to have one. How do I convince them?

Community Answer

Try to show them you're responsible by doing your chores and keeping your grades up. Ask them if you could just have a few people over and suggest that one of them supervise so things don't get out of control. Tell them that you'll be respectful of any rules they want to put into place.

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How can I make my bonfire more exciting?

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Make sure you have plenty of fun snacks and drinks for your guests, like a s'mores station. I would also recommend shopping around for something like colored powder that can be thrown into fires to create fun colors. Something like that could add a lot of entertainment to your bonfire!

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Tips

Bring mosquito spray if you don't want to be eaten alive (beware: mosquito spray is flammable).

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If making the bonfire on residential property in an urban area, you need to check with your city to make sure that they allow outdoor fires. They may have restrictions on how large the fire may be.

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If making the bonfire on a beach or campsite, you need to check with the appropriate authorities to get permission to make your bonfire.

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Warnings

Do not use flammable sprays or liquids to give the fire a "kick start"; it can be unsafe and it often puts them out.

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Spilled alcohol on clothing will ignite.

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Fire lighting can be dangerous. Be careful not to get burned.

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Sparks can ignite loose items and clothing.

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Make sure at least 1 person stays sober to keep an eye on the fire and ensure it does not get out of control.

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