The Log Cabin Fire: A Skill for Survival, A Story of Sustainability
How to Build a Fire: Wood Stove Cooking in Ghana
Building a fire is a daily necessity for millions across Africa, where wood remains the primary source of energy for cooking and heating. Learning how to efficiently build a fire using tinder, kindling, and firewood can improve fuel efficiency and reduce environmental impact. This guide explores fire-building techniques while shedding light on the heavy dependence on wood fuel in Africa.
The Reality of Wood Fuel Dependence in Africa
In 2018, more than 69 percent of sub-Saharan Africa lacked access to electricity. In rural areas, the number rises to over 85 percent—translating to more than 600 million people across 49 countries. To put this into perspective, the United States has a total population of 314 million people.
For many African communities, wood is essential for daily survival. Women and girls often walk for hours each day to gather firewood, leaving home before sunrise to avoid the midday heat. Beyond households, wood fuels are also used in food processing industries, such as baking, brewing, smoking, curing, and even electricity generation.
Firewood Collection and Preparation
Before building your fire, gather the following materials in separate piles:
Tinder: Small, dry, and easily flammable materials such as fibrous plant matter, dry leaves, or fine steel wool.
Kindling: Slightly larger materials like dry wood chips, twigs, or grass stalks that sustain the flame started by tinder.
Firewood: Larger twigs and logs that take longer to ignite but sustain the fire for extended periods.
The Log Cabin Fire-Building Method
Among various fire-building techniques, the Log Cabin Method is highly effective because it allows damp or green wood to dry as the fire burns. Follow these steps:
Place inch-thick pieces of fuel wood parallel to each other on either side of your tinder pile.
Lay slightly thinner pieces (thumb-thick) across the bottom two to form a square base.
Add thin, well-spaced pieces of kindling flat across the center, leaving space to insert a match.
Continue stacking in an overlay pattern until you have a square structure about seven levels tall.
Light the tinder and allow the flames to rise through the structure.
This method creates an open, airy fire that radiates heat efficiently, making it ideal for cooking.
Africa’s Heavy Reliance on Wood Fuel
Except for the five North African countries and South Africa, most African nations depend heavily on wood for basic energy needs. Wood fuel accounts for about 90 percent of total wood consumption in Africa, with 81 percent of households using solid fuels and 70 percent relying on them as their primary cooking energy source. Even in urban areas, nearly 60 percent of dwellers use woody biomass for cooking.
The Environmental and Social Impact
The extensive use of wood fuel poses serious environmental concerns, including deforestation, desertification, and air pollution. The demand for firewood has contributed to land degradation and habitat loss, further exacerbating climate change effects.
In 2018, ten African countries accounted for two-thirds of total wood consumption to meet 3 to 20 percent of their total energy needs:
Nigeria
Ethiopia
South Sudan
Tanzania
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Uganda
Sudan
Mozambique
Côte d'Ivoire
Kindling Hope: Fire Building and the Future of Fuel in Africa
Understanding fire-building techniques is essential not only for survival but also for minimizing fuel waste and reducing environmental harm. As Africa continues to rely on wood as a primary energy source, sustainable solutions such as improved cooking stoves, reforestation programs, and alternative energy sources must be explored to mitigate the impact of wood fuel dependency.