Starting a camp fire in the rain can be extremely challenging. You can end up spending far too much time and precious energy in a futile attempt.
Personally, during my first few camping trips, even the slightest chance or rain had me scrambling to start a fire before it started to sprinkle. And, if it started to pour, I’d spend way too much time struggling to get a fire going.
But, after spending years starting fires in all sorts of conditions, I’ve figured out the best way to consistently start a fire in wet conditions. And, you can do it too! (with the right tools and techniques, of course)
So, let’s dive into how to start a fire in the rain with step-by-step instructions and tips only seasoned campers would know.
5 Tips for Starting a Fire In the Rain
Tip 1 - Protect Wood Immediately
One of the best ways you can ensure you can start a fire quickly and easily is by protecting any collected firewood. This means covering or sheltering dry wood from the elements.
Rain, sleet and snow can all lead to wet wood if water permeates into the wood fibers. Tree bark naturally repels water and keeps the internal wood from getting moisture-logged. But, split wood exposes more of wood surface are which, when wet, is very difficult to ignite is damp.
So, it’s essential that you keep firewood off the ground, under a tarp, or in a sheltered area. This includes large logs as well as kindling or other natural fire starting materials like leaves and needles.
Pro-tip: If your campsite includes a picnic table, set up a tarp above the table (How to Set Up a Tarp). Then store your firewood under the tarp, next to the table to ensure it stays dry if it rains. If the ground is wet, place the wood on the bench-tops to keep away from run-off water.
Tip 2 – Keep a Stash of Dry Wood
One trick that I’ve learned over the years of making fires while camping is that keeping a stash of dry wood once you’ve started a fire is essential.
Keeping a stash of dry wood helps to ensure that if your initial fire fizzles out, or you need to start another fire in inclement weather, you already have dry wood saved. You can then easily and quickly re-start a fire.
Typically, once a fire starts, I keep splitting wood and make kindling that I store under a tarp or in my tent vestibule. I also dry wood next to my fire [see Tip 4] and keep some of it stored.
Then, the next day, it’s much easier to get a new fire going since the wood is dry, prepped and ready to go!
Pro-tip: If it’s raining for consecutive days, I would recommend that for you produce and store a pile of kindling and keep at least two split logs for every day camping day in a dry area.
Tip 3 – Collect Extra Firewood for Rainy Conditions
There’s an unwritten rule of camping. If you’re foraging for firewood, how ever much you plan on collecting, aim to collect 4 times as much. That’s because campers typically end up using much more wood than they think.
This is especially true for winter camping and camping in the rain. The added amount of firewood that is needed to keep a fire going in wet conditions, and if it’s cold, can be substantially more than normal.
So, if you collect or purchase bundles of firewood, make sure you get an ample amount because you’ll be burning through your stock quicker.
Tip 4 – Wet Wood Can Dry Out Next to a Fire
Wood that’s been collected can sometimes be still wet. Leaving it under a tarp will prevent it from getting wetter, however it will still take time to dry out even if it’s warm outside.
But, a great way to dry off wet wood is to keep it next to a fire once it’s been established. The ambient heat will draw out the moisture. Once dried, the wood can be stored in a sheltered area for future use.
Tip 5 – Consider Bringing Fire Starter [Qwick Wick]
To save a lot of time and energy getting a fire started with wet wood or in rain, a fire starter can be a virtual lifesaver. And one of the best and simplest fire starters on the market is from Qwick Wick [link to Amazon].
It’s roughly the size of a hockey puck made of wax and woodchips. And all you need to do is place it under a pile of wood and light the wick. The heat and flame produced will automatically get your campfire started!
The wax serves a duel purpose. It’s the fuel the wick and protects the wood chips from rain so it’s actually waterproof. The fire starter works in high winds and is small and lightweight to take into the backcountry. Most people use them to start fires in cabins without the hazel of prepping kindling.
Personally, I’ve used them in my backyard fire pit, as well as on canoe camping trips and it works like a charm.
Check out the video below explaining how the Qwick Wick fire starter works!
How to Make a Fire in the Rain [Step-By-Step Guide]
To start a fire in the rain you need the right tools and, more importantly, the right technique.
The method outlined below is great because it doesn’t need fire starter, but you can definitely use one.
Tools & Supplies
To make a fire you’ll need the following tools and supplies. I’ve included Amazon links to the exact tools that I use for every camping trip. They are simple yet functional – no fancy bells and whistles.
- Axe – Chopping Axe
- Knife – Camillus BushCrafter Knife
- Saw (Optional) – Bahco Laplander Folding Saw
- Firewood
- Lighter / Matches
- Tarp or Sheltered Area
Step 1 – Set Up a Sheltered Area
Soon after arriving at your campsite, set up a sheltered area to keep your firewood and initial fire out of the rain.
For me, I typically set up a tarp over a picnic table or over a flat area. Alternatively, you can set up a tent and use the tent vestibule.
Whatever sheltered area you erect, this will be the preparation and initial fire generation area.
Step 2 – Prepare Kindling and Shavings
Using an axe, split larger logs into smaller and smaller diameter sticks. Keep splitting logs until you have 10 smaller sticks, each about 0.5 to 1 inch in diameter.
Splitting the logs exposes the dry inner sections of wood. Keep the inner (dry) portions of the logs separate from the outer portions which might be damp.
Using a knife, create feather sticks from the internal sticks only. Feather sticks are paper thin shavings at the ends of each stick. Hold a stick vertical and apply even pressure with your knife and shave down the sides.
Keep any shavings that fall off in a dry place.
Pro-tip: Use a folding saw to cut large fallen branches and downed trees for firewood if you’re camping in the backcountry.
Step 3 – Make a Dry Fire Base
Using logs or large stones, build a flat base on the ground under the sheltered area. This will help keep the fire off the wet ground.
Tightly pile all the feather sticks together along with any shavings on the fire base. Lay the smaller sticks on top of the feather sticks in a tee-pee formation.
Step 4 – Ignite the Shavings
Using a lighter or match, light the shavings from the bottom of the pile. Spread the flame to multiple parts of the pile of shavings.
The flames should spread to the rest of the shavings and the fire should get more intense. Place thin sticks on top of the pile slowly as the fire spreads to the larger sticks on top of the feather sticks.
Pro-tip: If you have a fire starter, ignite and place the fire starter at the base of the feather sticks.
Step 5 – Add Larger Sticks and Logs
Once the fire has been established with smaller sticks, start to add a few larger logs. The heat and intensity of the fire should spread to the logs.
To keep the fire intense, add split logs or sticks. The smaller sticks ignite easier compared to the larger pieces.
Step 6 – Transfer Fire to Fire Pit (Optional)
Now that you have a small fire in your sheltered area, you can transfer it to a proper fire pit.
Using non-ignited sticks, pick up and quickly transfer the larger logs and coals into the fire pit. Immediately add smaller sticks onto the logs to make sure the fire doesn’t go out.
If required, split more logs and continue to add a combination of sticks and large pieces onto the fire. This will ensure the fire is well fueled, even in the rain!
This article contains affiliate links, which help support this blog at no cost to you!