A stump makes a great fire site, especially for cooking. Since they’re underground, there’s no source of oxygen to sustain the flame so the part of the stump under the surface won’t burn.To make a stump fire: Carve out the center of the stump into the rough shape of a bowl, including a channel cut on one …
The star fire, or (indian fire) is the ideal fire lay for conserving scarce fuel. Another advantage is that its low flame makes it safer than other fire lays for using inside a shelter. To form a star fire, make a small fire and arrange logs around the outside facing inwards to form the points of a star. The logs …
If you are in a snow-covered area the best thing to do would be to dig down to the ground and make your fire there. The snow walls would add more protection to your fire from the wind. If the layers of snow are too thick, you will have to build a platform for your …
You will have to choose what site to use before you build a fire. You want to select a site that is protected from the wind, sheltered and has a supply of wood or other fuel available. Your site should also be suitably placed in relation to your shelter (if any). There should be nothing nearby that could catch fire. …
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 …
Found in the middle of rotten logs, punk wood is in the process of rotting but hasn’t turned soft. It can be obtained by knocking or kicking apart rotten logs. It can be broken with the fingers but doesn’t crumble. Punk wood is very light in weight, but still fairly firm. If dried out, it …
Out of the many fire starters, petroleum jelly balls are one of the favorites. They are small, lightweight, and burn for a long time. They are also waterproof! The first ingredient is a material that is fluffy and fibrous like a cotton ball, dryer lint, cattail down, dried grasses, etc. This, combined with run-of-the-mill Petroleum …
A metal match, aka firesteel, is often confused with flint and steel. It is similar to the flint used in a cigarette lighter, but much bigger. Most metal matches are made from a mixture of metals and rare earth elements. The mixture is alloyed at a high temperature and then shaped into rods of various diameters. The rods …
A match is a narrow piece of cardboard or wood coated on one end with a compound that will ignite when scratched against a rough or chemically treated surface. Once struck, the friction will generate enough heat to ignite the compound chemicals and produce a flame. Strike Anywhere Matches Safety Matches Flare matches Storm Matches …
The long fire is a versatile, multi-purpose fire lay. The long fire begins as a trench, the length of which is layed to take advantage of existing wind. The long fire can also be built above ground using two parallel green logs to hold the coals together. These logs should be at least six inches in diameter …
A keyhole fire is made in a keyhole-shaped fire ring, and is used for cooking. The large round area is used to build a fire in order to create coals. As coals develop, they are scraped into the long thin end of the ring to cook. What Is a Keyhole Fire Keyhole fires are a …
When struck against steel, flint will produce sparks, which when directed onto tinder, can be used to start a fire. When the hard flint strikes the steel, it shears off a small sliver of steel. This tiny particle is heated by the impact between the flint and steel and burns with oxygen from the atmosphere. Materials: Flint – Flint can be …
Build fires downwind and well away from a flammable shelter. Maintain at least a three-foot clear area, free of leaves, dry grass, pine needles, etc., around the fire. Store extra firewood / tinder at least 6 feet away from the burning fire. Store flammable liquids outside and well away from your shelter. Build fires away from overhanging branches, steep slopes, …
This technique requires determination, but works well. Find a piece of softwood for your plow board, about 118 inches long and roughly 2 inches wide. Willow and poplar trees work well and are commonly found near streams and rivers. Use a knife or sharp rock edge to carve a groove about an inch wide and …
A fire piston, sometimes called a fire syringe, or a slam rod fire starter, is a device of ancient origin which is used to kindle fire. It uses the principle of the heating of a gas (in this case air) by its rapid compression to ignite a piece of tinder, which is then used to set …