FIRE SURVIVAL
Fire is an essential part of wilderness survival.
It cooks food, boils water, provieds protection and warmth, and is a way of signalling.
In preparing a fire, always ensure good ventilation.
Prepare a fireplace where you have total control over the fire.
Choose a sheltered site (except when signaling).
You should never light a fire at the base of a tree.
Make sure to clear all twigs, sticks, leaves, etc from around the fire for a distance of 6 feet.
In windy conditions you should dig a trench to light your fire.
You may also choose to encircle your fire with rocks.
When building a fire, remember the fire triangle, one side is air, one side is heat, one side is fuel.
If just one of these is removed, the fire will go out.
You should use dry wood to get a fire going.
Once established, mix with green and dried out damp wood.
Hard woods burn over a long period and give out good heat.
Soft wood will burn fast and give off too many sparks.
OTHER FUELS :
Peat : Found on moors.
You need dry before you burn, needs ventilation when burning.
Coal :
Animal Droppings :
You need dry well first, then mix with grass and leaves.
Shales : Are rich in oil and burn readily.
Matches are the best way to light a fire.
Always matches carry in water proof containers.
Strike a damp match by stabbing, not drawing.
Sunlight through a lense can also ignite tinder.
Preferably use a magnifying glass.
Flint :
Strike with steel and hot sparks will fly off into some dry grass to start a fire.
Wilderness Survival
