Keeping Fire Going When it's Raining

S

SkunkWerX

Joined
Jul 27, 2006
Messages
1,730
What do you do when it's raining, drizzling, and you don't want your fire to go out?

Is there any known or suggested method to build an awning or roof over a small camp fire to keep it from slowly going out?

I know if it's a downpour, there is not very much you can do, but, just consider you have a fire going, and a slow rain starts moving in.

I liked Docs blue-tarp teepee, that would be one way to keep fire, keep dry and keep warm while it's raining.

Any other thoughts???
 
Keep it big! Try to arange it so that most of the coals are sheltered under larger logs. This is easier when the fire has been going a while, and good bed of coals have built up and not easily smothered.
 
Will said:
Keep it big! Try to arange it so that most of the coals are sheltered under larger logs. This is easier when the fire has been going a while, and good bed of coals have built up and not easily smothered.
Click to expand...

What he said.^ A tipi style works the best in these situations, sheds the water.:thumbup:
 
greenknight said:
um... napalm?
Click to expand...

Heh.. Reminds me of when I was a kid, me and some friends thought it would be cool to burn a magnesium engine block. From a VW, I think. Scared the crap out of us and damn near did us all in when the fire started drawing unwanted attention. :D
 
I think they nailed it.
I pretty much hang a large tarp rain or shine, they are just two handy not to have up, IMO.
 
Helle, thats what I was waiting for...I wondered if there was a way to tarp it off to oneside with a slanted covering?

In all my years I've never had to "protect" a fire, in a "serious" situation.

Just lucky, i guess?
 
Use a Teepee type fire lay and cover the sides with thick pieces of tree bark (not from birch trees). You can keep even an unlit fire relatively dry in this fashon.
 
A very common method in heavy rain is to use large and partially rotted logs on the fire. The logs will tend to absorb the water like a sponge as they are rotted unlike fresh wood where the water rolls off of it and then down on the fire. The coals will keep heating up the logs from underneath and boil the water out so it can shed the water for a long time.

-Cliff
 
We used to make the younger scouts take turns holding their poncho's out over the fire. In that scenario, your head hole becomes the chimney, so there was a lot of choking, etc. It didn't bother us older scouts much though, and when one looked like he'd had enough we'd bring in a fresh reinforcement. Hehehehe. We ate good though, and thats all them younguns cared about once the food was done.
 
Will, hit the nail.

A large mature fire with a bed of coals will last in a downpour with a little protection.

A natural shelter over it helps as well.

SKam
 
I don't mean to hijack but what if the fire isn't mature. Say you get your tinder going and a raindrop hits you in the noggin. How would you go about protecting that sucka?
 
Shotgun said:
I don't mean to hijack but what if the fire isn't mature. Say you get your tinder going and a raindrop hits you in the noggin. How would you go about protecting that sucka?
Click to expand...

Stand over it and hope to christ that you have enough wood ready to cover it before you burn.:thumbup: :D
 
Shotgun said:
I don't mean to hijack but what if the fire isn't mature. Say you get your tinder going and a raindrop hits you in the noggin. How would you go about protecting that sucka?
Click to expand...

That is a legitimate scenario, for sure.

i think it would call for some kind of shelter over the young fire. maybe a paoncho on two sticks at an angle. Just has to be held high enough so it doesn't melt or burn? i guess.
 
Shotgun said:
I don't mean to hijack but what if the fire isn't mature. Say you get your tinder going and a raindrop hits you in the noggin. How would you go about protecting that sucka?
Click to expand...

Stand over the small blaze and protect it best you can until it gets bigger. The goal is to get it roaring so it will stand on its own in wet conditions.

Sucka. :rolleyes:

SKam
 
Man, I didn't read anything but the posted question, and all I can say WHAT?

I've been camping my entire life, and I've kept many, many fires going through rain storms. Even started a few in the rain (granted, I did use my spare stash of dry stuffs). I've never really had a hard time, either. Of course, if all you have is wet wood to work with, it'll take a lot more work, but its not impossible.

Practice is the only way to get good at it.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top