Pine cones are a fantastic and efficient way to start a fire and they can burn for a long time without any other kind of fuel. However, to get a roaring campfire started, it is important to light the cones on a bed of tinder that includes a mixture of grass, pine needles, moss, small twigs and even dead leaves. The good news is that these items can be moist and still do the job of feeding a growing fire. Pine cones produce a small amount of oils that get released once ignited, and this will coat the moist items and create a flammable surface that will help the fire to spread.
The best way to use pine cones as a fire starter is to treat them with a liquid fuel or wax. Due to their ability to absorb liquids, you can pour some kerosene, lighter fluid or even rubbing alcohol on the cones and use that as your ignition fuel. However, they pose a fire hazard as well as release toxic fumes during storage, which can be a problem if not kept in a well-ventilated and cool area.
Consider treating the cones with wax or petroleum jelly instead. Both options will ignite once lit, and they will also burn very slowly. In fact, you can coat a pine cone with petroleum jelly, wrap some moss around it, attach it to a stick and use it as a makeshift torch that will provide a good amount of light for a few minutes. The only drawback to using petroleum jelly is that it is messy and difficult to get the material into all of the nooks and crannies of the cones.
Using hot wax is the most thorough and efficient way to treat the pine cones, and it only takes a few minutes to get the job done. Warm up about cup or two of wax by using raw material or melting down a couple of large and unscented candles. Once the wax has melted, dunk the pine cones into the liquid with some tongs for a couple of seconds, lift them out and let the excess wax drip back into the pan. Place the cones on a sheet of waxed paper or aluminum foil until the wax cools. You can store the cones in Ziploc or paper bags as long as they are kept in a dry place.
When it comes to start the fire, place the treated cones on top of a nest of kindling that you have created similarly to the example given above. The cones will ignite as soon as they come in contact with a flame, and they will burn very slowly. This gives you plenty of time for the flames to dry out any damp tinder and wood in order to grow the fire. You can start a dry fire with just one cone, but you may need a few for larger fires when access to drier kindling material is not available.
The biggest advantage to using pine cones is their longevity. A treated cone can burn a lot longer than a piece of cotton that has been covered in petroleum jelly. They also burn with bigger flames than a piece of treated charcoal, and they are not nearly as messy.
