How to Light a Campfire – Project Zomboid

The campfire is one of the most useful items in the entire game. Along with being one of the easiest heat sources to craft, you can use the campfire to cook and boil water to purify it. Whilst you can easily see how to craft a campfire from the crafting menu the game doesn’t tell you how to light. Read on to find out how to set that campfire alight.

As Project Zomboid is in early access and information is subject to change, you can check out the latest news on the game on the official Project Zomboid website.


How to Light a Campfire in Project Zomboid

To light a campfire in order to use it, you are going to need a couple of things. First, craft and place the campfire down on the ground. You will need either a lighter or a box of matches to actually start a fire in the campfire. The other things that you’ll need to start a fire is something to burn, such as an old piece of clothing or book. With these items in your inventory, right-click on the campfire and select the option Light Fire and chose an item to use. See the image below for reference.

As Adamos has also mentioned in the comments below, another method of lighting the campfire is to use a drilled or notched plank and a sturdy stick to get a spark. It seems the developers were definitely boy scouts when they were younger.

Lighting a fire in Project Zomboid using a lighter and a tank top
Lighting up a beach campfire

Once you have selected this option, your character will get the necessary items equipped and move to the campfire in order to light it. You will not need to do anything else to light up a campfire in Project Zomboid. If you can’t find something flammable to use with the lighter, just defeat a zombie and take one of their items of clothing. You can see in the image above, I use a lighter and an old tank top to start the fire.


How to Cook Items on the Fire

Now that you have a lit campfire in Project Zomboid how are you going to use it? To put things on the fire in order to cook them, all you have to do is stand near the fire. When you are standing by it, you can access the campfire’s inventory the same way you would loot cupboards or any other container. Simply drag an item from your inventory on to the campfire in order to start using the fire with it. This could be a food item or a water canister you want to boil. That’s all there is to it.

Dragging items onto the burning campfire in order to cook them
Just click and drag as you would any other container

Make sure you keep an eye on whatever you are cooking on the fire. It is possible to burn food and other items if they stay on the heat too long. That’s all there is to it. Cooking and using items on the campfire couldn’t be easier in Project Zomboid. Now you can live out your survivalist dreams. The best thing about campfires is that you can use them to boil water and create an unlimited supply of water for your character.


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