How to Build a Fire with Wet Wood [Easy]

• Wet wood is simply an unseasoned log with a moisture concentration of about 20% to 60% (learn more about seasoned firewood here)
• If you want to heat the moist log with ease, ensure that you collect plenty of dry sticks, twigs, and pieces of logs.
• You may use either the pyramid or cabin fire structure. Skillful campers encourage the use of cabin fire structures. The cabin is stable, and easy to burn the wet logs.
• Place a big log on the base, add dry sticks and twigs, and light your flame.
• Continue adding the wet logs piece by piece so as not to put off the flame.

It is wonderful to spend your evening out at a camp or outside your house. But it gets more interesting and fun with a campfire to keep you comfortable. You find it easy to light your fire with a dry log in most cases.

Watch This Wet Firewood Tutorial For a Complete Demonstration

Camping out can become tricky if rain falls and your wood gets wet. However, this should not worry you any bit. You can light a campfire or a firepit using wet wood with great ease.

There is joy in managing to build a good blaze from soggy logs. The skill you horn will always come in handy whenever the weather goes wrong. This article has steps to guide you on how to build your fire with wet wood.

• Select where to set up the fire.
• Have with you a blaze lighter.
• Erect a bed to clasp your blaze off the soggy ground.

Identify a Nice Place to Set Up Your Fire

One of the most crucial steps to take before building your fire is to pick a clear spot. Ensure that the place you choose is free of dry sticks and or leaves.

These may catch the flame and spread to unwanted areas and force you to cut your fun short to contain its spread.

Once you identify the most suitable place, prepare the ground. If the ground is soggy, you have no option but to erect a bed. You can also build a wall to shield the fire from burning out.

Collect the Materials to Build Your Flame

You can only build and sustain a great blaze if you gather the needed ingredients. Remember you are to light your fire using wet or rained-on logs. To make this easy for you, you will need the following;

Dry Pieces of Sticks

Dry sticks are a good pick when building a flame with wet wood. They catch a flame fast. You will need them any time it begins to dwindle.

Dry Leaves

Dry leaves are easy to get even when it is falling. These are light starters, and every camper ought to know how to use them. You will need a good pile of dry leaves to ignite your blaze.

Small Pieces of Logs

Big chunks of logs may take you a long time to light. Split your log into smaller pieces. Building and maintaining the blaze with this split log will become easier.

Some Twigs

Pick twigs that are not full of moisture. You will combine them with the dry leaves and sticks to start your fire. Once they are burning steadily, you may start adding the wet logs.

The Logs

The log is the main source of your campfire. Please choose the right size, and shape and ensure it is not soggy. You do not want to develop anxiety and throw in the towel.

A Firelighter

Equip yourself with an effective lighter or matchbox. You can use the stones if you forget your lighter. It may take you a long time, but you certainly will have your blaze. Learn about some of our favorite fire starter tools here.

Erect a Suitable Structure for Your Blaze

The structure you build to hold and keep the blaze burning will determine how long it will last. If it has been raining, consider raising the firebase. This will protect the burning log from flowing water or wet ground.

Depending on the occasion, you can pick any of the two fire structures below:

The Pyramid Structure

It is also known as the cone shape blaze or teepee. This type of structure is easy to erect and does not consume a lot of wood. A pyramid structure is best suited for even grounds.

Criss-Cross Structure

Criss-cross or cabin structures may consume a lot of logs. It may take you some time to erect the structure, but it is worth it when done. You will not worry about the blaze burning out fast.

All you need are sufficient quantity of wood. Arrange them in a house-like structure, and ensure it is stable.

Start Your Fire

If you choose the pyramid structure, do the following, and you will build a great fire.

Place a big wood at the base of the structure. The wood will act as support for the dry sticks and leaves. Arrange the dry sticks and leaves to form a cone shape. Strike your match and light the fire.

Once they start burning, add more of the dry sticks until the flame is steady. Add the twigs and the small pieces of wood onto the flame. Next, you can add the big wood or logs as the blaze burns steadily.

You will have to be cautious so that you don’t let the flame burn out. Maintain the cone shape; it allows the oxygen needed for combustion to circulate well.

You will need to erect a foundation for the logs cabin first. Place one wood over the other to form a house-like structure. Add the dry sticks, leaves, and twigs to the center of the criss-cross structure and light them.

To build and support a stronger flame, add more twigs and small pieces of logs. Since the oxygen will be flowing uninterrupted, the fire will grow stronger. Keep adding fresh wet wood over each other whenever the flame becomes stronger.

Learn more about how to keep your firepit going and how to extinguish a firepit when you’re done!

Using wet firewood indoors vs outdoors

If you must use wet wood, it’s best to do so outdoors. If you build a fire indoors with wet wood, the fire will produce a lot of smoke. This is because the water in the wet wood will evaporate and rise up through the flames, carrying particles of soot and other pollutants with it.

The smoke from a wet wood fire can be dangerous to your health, so it’s best to avoid it if at all possible.

If you absolutely must use wet wood indoors, try to build the fire in a fireplace or stove that ventilates to the outside. This will help to remove some of the smoke from the room and prevent it from building up to dangerous levels.

Of course, you could always get yourself an electric fireplace or a gas fireplace and spare yourself a lot of the hassle and mess that comes with wood fireplaces!

Summing Up

Building a fire with soggy logs can be a daunting task. It is not every person’s cup of tea, but it is worth the pain. You will realize it is not different from using dry logs.

This article is a reminder that when you go out camping or for a hike, prepare for the unexpected. It is crucial you carry with you essential equipment for such eventualities. You will have to exercise patience to set wet logs ablaze lest you throw in the towel.

If you follow the guidelines herein, you will to overcome the wet wood challenge and enjoy a good blaze. Take extra precautions to shield yourself from disappointments.

Eugene Duke

Hi, my name’s Eugene Duke and I love sitting by my fireplace reading a book and sipping on an adult beverage. Do you have a fireplace in your house? I’ll help you figure out the best type and style of fireplace for your home.