Dakota Hole Fire

A Dakota Hole Fire is a fire that is built below the surface of the ground. This shields the flame and helps to keep it from being seen at night. If you use dry wood, the Dakota Hole Fire produces less smoke, and by building your fire at the base of a large tree, what smoke there is will be defused by the tree branches as it rises. When you are done with the fire, evidence of it is easily hidden by filling in the hole and covering the surface with normal ground cover from the area.

To build a Dakota Hole Fire, first dig a hole for the fire itself. This hole should be about 25 - 30 cm deep and maybe half that in diameter. Move about 25 cm from the fire hole and dig a second similar hole. Connect the two holes with a tunnel at their base. The second hole should be angled a bit toward the base of the fire hole to help air flow.

Fill the fire hole with kindling and get it burning. Continue to add bigger pieces of wood as your fire grows. The fire creates a draft which draws air into the second hole and to the base of the fire hole. This air flow results in a much hotter and more efficiently burning fire.