1. Look for Dry Wood
It won't be possible to start a campfire in the rain if everything you try to burn is wet. However, even in pouring rain, you can find lots of dry combustible materials. It won't be possible to start a campfire in the rain if everything you try to burn is wet. However, even in pouring rain, you can find lots of dry combustible materials. Look at the trees around you. Notice any dead branches on the lower part of the tree. Feel these branches. If they're dry, pull them off the tree. Dig around at the foot of the tree and pull out anything that's dry. Chances are the tree branches protected the ground. Dead trees that are still standing are great places for dry wood. Look beneath rocks, or dig around in hollows (watch out for critters). You can also use a piece of paper in your pocket or a piece of clothing to get the fire started. Make sure you're keeping any of your combustible materials dry. You can place it underneath a tree trunk or use a piece of wood to protect your other wood. If you're having problems, once you get your fire going, pile wood around it to help it dry out. Just make sure a stray spark doesn't ignite it.
2. The Three Kinds of Wood you Need
You'll need to start your fire with some sort of tinder. Good tinder can be dry pine needles, bark stripped off a tree, paper or a piece of dry cloth. Your kindling is dry twigs and small branches. Logs or large pieces of wood are what you need to keep your fire going. Kindling will burn fast, so you'll need a lot of it to get your fire started. You'll also need a lot of big pieces of wood to keep your fire going.
3. Build your Campfire
Put your tinder into a clear area. Place kindling around it in a 3-dimensional triangle, with a point up toward the sky. If your kindling is too small or too fragile for this, take two sticks about a foot long. Place them parallel to each other, and place tinder in the middle, but not touching the sticks. Pile kindling on top of the sticks, making a small pile.
4. Light Your Fire
Light the tinder with whatever you have; hopefully you have a lighter or waterproof matches. If you don't, it's nearly impossible to start a fire in the rain. Make sure you protect the flame from any wind. Blow on the flames to spread the fire to the kindling. Slowly feed the fire with kindling. Wait until the fire is going well before adding thicker logs or thicker pieces of wood.
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