Let it Blaze (In a contained area)

How to Make a Fire

So it's getting cold out, and your hungry.  You need to build a fire.  How do you start?

First, gather ignition to light your fire.  If you didn't bring matches, you can use flint and steel.  When you strike the steel against the flint, a little piece of it breaks off, generating heat from the impact.  The steel ignites from the heat and creates a spark.  Aim the sparks at your tinder, which you will need to collect next.

What is Tinder?

It is anything that will catch the spark/flame from your ignition, then transfer to the kindling for your fire.

 Some good examples of tinder:

• Dry needles from coniferous trees
• Dry plants and grasses
• Dry sticks
• Birch bark 
• Pine pitch
• Lint 
• Moss
• Wood shavings

 The third thing you need to accumulate to make your fire is kindling.  Kindling creates heat and flames to ignite your main fuel source.  Pieces of wood, twigs, and logs cut up into strips of wood all work as good tinder if they are dry.

Now, you should collect you main fuel source, which could be dry wood, peat, dry animal droppings, coal, and dried up pieces of grass twisted together.

Hint: Once your fire is set up and burning, you can use wet or green fuel, which will burn slower than dry fuel. 

Next, clear a circular area for your fire, about four feet in diameter. To prevent the fire from spreading, enclose the area with stones, or dig a chasm a couple of inches deep. 

Stones will insulate the fire's heat.  You can also build a wall of wood to direct the fire's heat to you rather than away from you.  This method conserves heat, and you will stay warmer.

It is desirable to keep enough water with you to extinguish your fire in case it gets out of control. 

Place your tinder on top of your pile of kindling. Your kindling should be piled in a way that the air can circulate and still allow the flame to spread. 

Light the fire with your ignition by aiming the spark/flame at the tinder. Once the fire is inititated, start adding firewood/fuel from smallest to largest.  Remember to place wet fuel on the fire only after it is started, otherwise it will not be able to ignite.

There are a few different methods you can use for building your fire - here's a look at a few of them:

The Tepee 

Log Cabin

Lean-To

 

The Pyramid

 

The Star

Now you know how to start a fire.  Let it blaze in a contained area, and enjoy!

For more information on fires, check out this webpage:

http://www.wildwoodsurvival.com/survival/fire/index.html

Check back soon for more exciting posts:

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