I can still remember sitting in front of my fireplace with a ball of torn paper strips, a magnesium rod, and a Ferro rod fire starter. I would shave a little of the magnesium bar onto the paper and then try my best to shower sparks onto the magnesium using the included striker. I was …
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 …
In the early stages of fire building, wind can be a downright nightmare to deal with. When a fire is established, wind can actually help the fire. It’s like blowing on a bed of coals only without air from your own lungs. In a survival situation, it’s important to know how to build a trench …
After a long day of trout fishing in the Virginia highlands, I had caught dinner and waded in the pristine setting of the Appalachian Mountains for most of the day. I was hungry, tired, and ready to tone it down and get the trout I caught cooked up for dinner. I found a place to …
If you have ever attempted to sustain a fire through the night, then you understand the value of a self-feeding fire. Sitting around a campfire and adding a log every so often makes you feel like a campfire will last a really long time left on its own. Once you lay your head down to …
In a camping or survival situation, needing to start a fire with wet wood can be a bit of a nightmare. However, in urgent situations where your surrounding environment is wet and potentially cool, it’s important to be able to get that life-saving warmth going. Can You Start A Fire With Wet Wood? The short …
Whether you are a dedicated winter outdoorsman or in desperate need of fire in a survival situation, the knowledge of how to build a fire in the snow is a necessary survival skill. Very rarely do we put ourselves in a position where a fire is our only means of maintaining core body temperature. However, …
Starting a fire with a magnifying glass is essential for survivalists or avid outdoorsmen. Why a magnifying glass? It works as an excellent substitute for starting fires in the absence of matches or a lighter. When you’ve exhausted your lighter fuel and matches and your fire steel is worn down, a magnifying glass could be the …
Fires are essential for outdoor survival and can often be a game-changer during an emergency situation. You can up your game with one of these great fire starter tools. Why is a fire essential? Not only do they provide heat to keep hikers and campers warm, but that heat can also be used for cooking …
When you find yourself in an emergency situation, there is arguably no skill that is more important than the ability to start a survival fire. While having a fire starter kit can be helpful, you’re not always afforded that luxury. If you know how to start a fire with a battery, however, you’ll be able …
When you find yourself in a survival situation, learning how to use a tinder bundle to start a fire is going to be the difference between life and death. The first winter in North America after SHTF is going to be when a lot of people don’t make it. Learning how to keep yourself warm …
Fire is an essential component to surviving in the outdoors, and everyone should know how to start a fire without the use of matches. Something that people often overlook in regards to starting a fire is the fire pit or fire ring inside which they’ll be building their fire. Having a good fire ring to …
This V fire lay is a modified version of the long fire. The way the V fire is arranged allows you to either block strong winds, or take advantage of light breezes. During high wind conditions, the part of the lay where the two logs come together is placed in the direction from which the winds …