What does the campfire in the forest represent? How is this fire different from other fires depicted in the novel?

I think that this fire represents a new life.  It represents something that the men hope will be kindled and lit by the knowledge that is inside their heads.

This fire is different from all of the other fires in the story because it is the only one that is actually meant to help people and to make life better.  All of the other fires in the story are meant to destroy.  This fire is meant to comfort the men and help them to survive.  One image of fire in our society is the comfortable fire that burns in a fireplace.  This fire is that kind of fire.