Fire Preparation

Fire and water are in all probability your first concerns regarding survival situations Both fire and water have multiple uses

Fire keeps us warm Water purification Cooking Protection Signal

There are several methods to starting a fire We can classify starting a fire into two general categories: Modern methods & Primitive

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

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

Wood Bark, Moss & Fungus - these can be great sources of dry material to start a fire Dry grass and leaves Cow pies and other dry dung from grazing animals Anything else handy that burns…

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.

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.

Refraction: magnifying glass Reflection: mirror

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

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

Buddy method

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

Pop can Bag & Water Ice

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