Campfire
crafting
Off-grid cooking and heat, built from three stones. Keep it outdoors: indoors it can set flammable floors alight.
Variants
| Variant | Tier | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Campfire | — | 3 stones |
About the campfire
A campfire is an off-grid heat and cooking source that works without electricity, making it essential once the power grid fails. It lets you cook food, boil water, and stay warm, but it produces flames and must be handled carefully near anything flammable. It is one of the first survival utilities you'll want established at a base.
Placement & defense tips
- ▸Place campfires outdoors or on an unroofed tile only; building one under a roof or floor above risks spreading fire to your base.
- ▸Keep the campfire clear of wooden walls, furniture, and other flammable structures to avoid catching your base alight.
- ▸Set it somewhere safe but accessible, such as just outside a defended courtyard, so you can cook without venturing into the open.
- ▸Build it on bare ground rather than on top of valuable structures, since fire can damage what's beneath and around it.
- ▸Position it where the light won't shine through windows toward unsecured areas at night.
Choosing a variant
- ▸The campfire is the standard off-grid cooking and heat source; in Build 42 you build it from three stones, then add fuel like planks, twigs, or books and light it with a lighter, matches or a notched plank.
- ▸Because it relies on burnable fuel, keep a stock of firewood or scrap fuel on hand so you can cook and boil water whenever needed.
- ▸Treat the campfire as your post-shutoff cooking solution alongside any generator-powered stove you may set up indoors.
Common mistakes
- ✕Placing a campfire indoors or under a roofed tile, which can ignite and burn down the base.
- ✕Building it too close to wooden walls or furniture, letting fire spread to nearby flammable objects.
- ✕Letting the fire burn unattended or running out of fuel mid-cook, wasting both food and resources.
Frequently asked
Can I put a campfire inside my house?
You can, but you shouldn't. The game lets you place one indoors, but it can spread fire to adjacent flammable floors and burn your base down, so keep it outdoors.
What can I burn as fuel in a campfire?
Common fuels include planks, logs, twigs, branches, and even books and paper, with bigger fuel items burning longer. A notched plank is a fire-starting tool, not fuel, and isn't used up.
Can I cook and boil water on a campfire?
Yes. Once lit, a campfire lets you cook food and boil water to purify it, which is vital after the power and water shut off.