Fire Preparation

WNY FREE Group

Fire and water are in all probability your first concerns regarding survival situations

Both fire and water have multiple uses

Fire

Fire keeps us warmWater purificationCookingProtectionSignal

Fire

There are several methods to starting a fire

We can classify starting a fire into two general categories:

Modern methods & Primitive

Fire

Modern fire starting tools include lighters, matches, magnesium stick, chemicals, and many others…

The modern fire starting methods are usually the easiest and quickest way to ignite combustible materials

Modern Fire Starting

Primitive fire starting methods can include the following: lenses, bow & spindle, flint & steel, many other friction methods

We will focus on the primitive fire starting methods

Primitive Fire Starting

WoodBark, Moss & Fungus - these can be

great sources of dry material to start a fire

Dry grass and leavesCow pies and other dry dung from

grazing animalsAnything else handy that burns…

Combustible Materials

Another useful item is Char-Cloth. Char cloth is basically what the name implies, cloth that has been partially charred. Small squares or circles of untreated, 100% cotton or linen cloth are placed in a small can, which is sealed except for a small hole in the top. This can is then placed in the coals of a fire for 5-10 minutes (depending on the size of the can, type and thickness of cloth, etc.). Remove the can from the coals when it stops smoking from the hole in the top. DO NOT open it until it is cool to the touch. After it is cooled, the cloth should have a uniform black color and the feel of Silk.

It also makes the Drill method much quicker and easier. When used with a Burning Lens, it makes the fire starting process almost instantaneous.

Char-Cloth

Tinder Bundle: A tinder bundle is the very first fire starting materials you will try to ignite when building a fire. It should be the finest, driest, lightest and most combustible gathering of materials you can get your hands on.

What to Start on Fire First???

Tinder Bundle

Tinder Bundle

Tinder Bundle

Refraction: magnifying glassReflection: mirror

Lenses

Burning Lens Focus the Sun's rays through your lens to form a pin-point on the char. Instantly you will see a glow on the char. If you are not using char, continue focusing on your tinder until it begins to smoke. Set the lens aside and gently blow on the char or tinder until the glow begins to grow

Lens Method

Place you tinder partially under the V-notch in your Fireboard. Wrap the lace around the drill one turn. Place the sharp end of the drill in the hand block and the dull end into the fire block. Begin to work the bow back and forth, like a sawing motion. Slowly increase your speed while keeping a steady rhythm. Watch for smoke coming from the fire block. Continue "sawing" until the smoke is constant (not just an occasional puff). Quickly set the bow and drill aside and dump the hot "sawdust" from the block onto the char. Gently blow. If no glow is seen, repeat the above. It may take several tries to get the "sawdust" hot enough to catch the char. If you are not using char the procedure is the same, just a little more difficult

Bow or Hand Drill

Hand Drill

Bow Drill Method

Buddy methodDrill Methods

Ember on Tinder Bundle

Success

Flint & Steel Find a sharp edge on your flint. If no sharp edge is available, you will need to "knap" a fresh edge. This is done by gently tapping the edge with your steel until a piece flakes off. You should now have a sharp edge. If you don't, your rock probably isn't flint. Assuming it is, you should get sparks by striking the flint and steel together at a 45 angle. This can be done either by holding the steel steady at the desired angle and striking the flint on it or by holding the flint steady at the desired angle and striking the steel on it. Either method is acceptable, so try both and see which works better for you

Flint Steel

Flint Steel

Flint & Steel

Flint & Steel

Pop canBag & WaterIce

Thinking Outside the Box

Pop Can Fire Starting

Fire by Water

Fire and Ice

Next Month Water

The End