A night around the fire is always special. We have been gathering around flickering flame for a LONG time. That is why people feel a certain way when the fire is crackling in the fireplace or at the campsite. In this age of technological distraction, fire has a unique way of still bringing us together. …
Have you used a chainsaw to create a Swedish torch? This can be a fun way to spend an evening. The stump fire that you can create this way is great for cooking over, roasting marshmallows, or just sitting around and enjoying an evening with some fire cracking and popping. However, if you do not …
Fire is the ultimate survival tool. When harnessed, it creates life saving heat, it cooks food for consumption, and it provides protection and peace of mind. But, if you want to be a true survivalist, you need to be able to master fire. First, you need to be able to start a fire in any …
A fire plow is a method of starting a friction fire that uses a wood plow and a notched piece of wood to thrust the plow against. Understanding how to make a fire plow and how to use it could give you the ability to make fire when you have nothing but a knife or …
Arguably, creating fire is one of the most, if not the most, important skills you can have in a survival situation. When you create fire you create warmth, light, the ability to cook your food, boil water, protect yourself and provide comfort. The very act of being able to create fire can be a matter …
Starting a fire can mean the difference between life and death depending on where you are in the world or what the circumstances are. While that might sound a bit extreme, starting a fire can at the very least mean the difference between being warm and comfortable versus cold and miserable. At any rate, the …
We are talking about the classic campfire when we talk about the teepee fire. The teepee is a great way to build a fire that allows all kinds of airflow and, when done properly, is basically one of the simplest fires that a person can build. This fire is a great way to teach kids …
Fire starting and fire-making is your birthright. We are the only species on the planet that has the ability to harness fire at will. Many scientists believe cooked protein was one of the keys to our massive brain growth. Eating meat led to smaller stomachs, bigger brains – Harvard Gazette While some fire starters are …
A small campfire is usually enough to sustain a single group of campers. Traditional fire lays will get that job done. What happens, though, when you have a big party and the single campfire will not do. What if you would like to do some elaborate cooking without a Coleman stove? The long fire is …
Fire was first discovered in the Early Stone Age, approximately 400,000 years ago. It has been an essential part of human survival ever since. Of all the survival skills that young Cub Scouts and Eagle Scouts are taught, quickly building fires is possibly the most important of the lot. It lets you cook food, purify …
“Now make that dot as small as you can make it,” I coached my son Carter in the backyard, “Keep it nice and still.” Holding a fresnel lens, Carter watched intently as the small glowing dot began to heat the center of a dry leaf. “It’s smoking!” A few moments later the small pile of …
The making of char cloth can be done in a fireplace, backyard fire pit, or anywhere you decide to start a fire. Making it with kids is a great little activity that can get them around the fire and away from electronic distractions. Making and using char cloth are great skills to add to your …
If you’re looking for a stable-based fire that is easy to build, you should try the criss cross fire. It always surprises me that the teepee fire is the most popular. When a fire is represented in films or games it is almost always this kind of fire. In my opinion, the teepee fire is …
A campfire is not a survival fire. That distinction is something that we need to make early on. Building a survival fire is about improving your chance for SURVIVAL. When you are starting a campfire for leisure and roasting marshmallows it’s just a different experience and requires a different degree of speed and effectiveness. To …
The cold winter air was creeping into my sleeves and lingering around the back of my neck. With each exhalation, large clouds of condensation were visible in the night before me. There was no fire. There was no noise. I was sitting under a clear winter sky with the unfathomable silence of a cold night …