Tips for How to Build a Good Beach Fire
One of the most challenging fires to build are those on beaches, mainly due to constant sea breezes that make them difficult to light or keep going. However, there are some things that you can do to make getting beach fires started easier while using fewer resources at the same time. Take a look at the steps below and see how easy it is to adapt a fire to these unique conditions.
Find the Best Location
The most important thing to consider when building a beach fire is location. You want to pick a spot that will not become flooded if the tide comes in. You want to find a spot that provides a good deal of natural cover if you are trying to minimize your visibility to others. You also want a spot that is sheltered from the wind when necessary. These are just a few examples of many factors that will contribute to where you decide to set up camp based on the situation at hand.
Build a Perimeter
In windy conditions, the best way to build a fire is by digging out a hole and placing your tinder, kindling and a good amount of fuel wood inside. This will help the fire to ignite and get hot enough to stay lit, especially as it becomes established. The size and depth of the hole will depend on the conditions at the time, but be prepared to make a hole that is a few times larger than the diameter of the fire in some situations.
You also want to build a perimeter around the fire whenever possible by using small rocks. Simply place a layer or two around the fire in order to reinforce the sand hole that you’ve made. A good perimeter can also make it easier to keep wind out of the heart of the fire. This can also reduce the size of the hole you need to dig in order to protect the fire.
Scavenge
While many beaches are far from tree lines and good pieces of wood, chances are that you will find most of the material that you need to build a good fire lying around in the sand. Almost any form of driftwood can be used for fuel, and you shouldn’t have many problems finding all kinds of material that can be used for kindling and tinder. Dried sea plants are ideal fire-starters, along with pieces of bark and small branches that dot beaches more often than not. Scavenge the beach before heading inland to find material, because chances are that you will have more than you need in the immediate area.
Traditional Approach
All you need to do now is build a fire by using the standard tinder, kindling and fuel formula. Place a generous amount of tinder in the center of the fire pit. Add the kindling around and on top of the tinder and then place the fuel wood on top. The trick is to estimate how much material you will need to get a fire started and going beforehand in order to reduce the amount of trips you need to make to hunt for items.
Gather in Advance
Estimate how much time you will be spending at that particular beach and how much material you will need to build fires. Gather these items early and often as they may not be consistently available. This is especially-true if you’re depending on material to wash ashore. Material that is dry and available one moment may become wet or submerged under water the next. You may also end up having to collect material as it floats ashore, and this means that you will have to make time and find ways to dry them out before use.
These are just a few examples of adaptations that need to be made when building fires on beaches. The trick is to think and plan ahead a little bit, secure resources and then create a system that will give you access to the material you need for as long as you are on-site.
