Beginner — Making a Fire

Overview

Making a fire is essential for managing your core temperature, drying wet clothes, and cooking raw meat to avoid food poisoning. Without a reliable heat source, you will quickly succumb to hypothermia or malnutrition in the harsh environment of Chernarus or Livonia.

How It Works

The fire system relies on three layers: Kindling, Fuel, and an Ignition source. You must combine small items like rags or paper with sticks or logs inside a fireplace kit or stone ring to create a combustion environment. The fire consumes fuel over time, and its intensity can be modified by adding more wood or using a fireplace tripod/stone ring for cooking.

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Find a knife or hatchet to obtain resources.
2. Cut down a bush to get Short Sticks, or chop a tree for Long Wooden Sticks and Wooden Logs.
3. Combine rags, paper, or bandages in your hands to create a Hand Drill Kit, or use a Matchbox or Road Flare.
4. If using a Hand Drill Kit, combine two Short Sticks to craft it.
5. Combine a piece of paper, bandage, or rags with a Short Stick to create a Fireplace Kit, then place it on the ground.
6. Add more Short Sticks or Wooden Logs to the Fireplace Kit inventory.
7. Equip your ignition source (Matches, Flare, or Hand Drill Kit) and look at the fireplace to trigger the "Ignite" prompt.
8. Once lit, you can add more logs to sustain the fire or attach a Cooking Tripod to the kit to hang a cooking pot.

Tips

• Use a Stone Ring (8 stones around the Fireplace Kit) to protect the fire from rain and increase efficiency.
• A Hand Drill Kit is renewable and infinite, making it superior to matches for long-term survival.
• You can dry soaked clothing by placing them on the ground near the fire, but do not place them directly on the flames or they will ruin.
• Fires emit significant light and smoke; always extinguish or relocate your fire if you hear nearby gunfire or movement.
• Fat is the best fuel source for long-lasting fires; keep rendered animal fat in your inventory for emergency long-burn situations.

Common Mistakes

• Placing a fire indoors without a fireplace structure (like a house hearth) can lead to fire damage to the player or structure issues.
• Igniting a fire while wearing soaking wet clothes without taking them off first—this will not warm you effectively.
• Forgetting to remove items from your hands before trying to interact with the fireplace, which often causes the prompt to fail.
• Attempting to light a fire in heavy rain without a Stone Ring or overhead cover, which will cause the fire to extinguish immediately.

Related Items

• Matches
• Hand Drill Kit
• Hatchet
• Cooking Tripod
• Fireplace Kit
• Wooden Log

Related Guides

• Skinning and Quartering
• Hunting and Fishing
• Managing Core Temperature
• Boiling and Purifying Water