In cold weather, fire is much more than a comfort: it becomes a vital priority. It not only allows you to warm up, but also to melt snow, dry clothes, and prepare food.
However, starting a fire in cold or snowy weather is a challenge: damp wood, frozen ground, wind… You need to know the right reflexes to successfully light it and especially to maintain it.
1. Prepare an insulating base
In snow or on frozen ground, the fire goes out quickly if it is in direct contact with moisture.
Use stones, thick logs, or a bed of branches as a base. This creates a thermal insulation and prevents heat absorption by the cold ground.
2. Choose dry and well-ventilated wood
Look for dead wood hanging (never on the ground) or take the inner bark from large trunks. Coniferous wood (pine, fir) is ideal because it burns even when damp due to its resin.
Cut the wood into small thin pieces to facilitate ignition, then into larger logs to maintain the burn.
3. Use natural or improvised fire starters
Conifer resin, cotton coated with petroleum jelly, or even crumpled paper are excellent fire starters.
You can also make a natural fire starter with dry bark (birch) or create a torch from rags soaked in animal fat.
4. Protect the fire from wind and moisture
Create a windbreak of stones or compacted snow around your fire pit. Use a tarp, a stump, or a natural wall to block the wind.
During ignition, keep a shelter above the fire (fabric, coat, blanket) to prevent snow from falling into it.
Conclusion
In cold weather, knowing how to make a fire can literally save your life.
With good preparation, well-chosen materials, and a bit of strategy, you can achieve a reliable source of heat even in the worst weather conditions.
