Got Fire? Starting a Fire Under Any Condition
Fred Marmorstein June 12, 2008
Waterproof matches travel with most backpackers as standard gear. Many even carry a strike box that withstands inclement weather. And while you can create fire from a can of soda and a chocolate bar, most hikers do not lug cans with them out on the trail.
Neither do hikers always have access to cedar bark, the time and patience to build bow drills, or find an adequate piece of flint.
If matches become destroyed or lost, what can back country hikers do? Is dryer lint really necessary to create a fire? Backpackers have several pragmatic options that can fit their needs in any emergency.
The 4 Step Process:
- The Fire Assembly
- The Fire Catalyst
- The Fire Starter
- The Fire Feeder
The Fire Assembly
Have all materials readily available. Never start a fire without gathering everything you need. Be ready to go, producing a fire that lasts under any circumstance for whatever emergency presents itself. The less time wasted fumbling around for items that cannot be found, the more time spent on surviving an emergency.
The Fire Catalyst
Every fire needs to begin with an initial presumption of fuel. Flying sparks remain useless if they have nothing to light. Also, keep in mind that these outdoor catalysts must be as dry as possible to ensure success. Many items in the immediate environment are extremely useful: grass, leaves, cattails, moss, and pine needles. Packing in your catalyst helps, too. Wax paper continues to offer the most benefits. Easy to pack, lightweight, durable, and a superb medium for fire starting.
The Fire Starter
Reliability and consistency represent the only two criteria necessary for starting a fire. With this in mind, starting a fire with a AA battery and steel wool will never fail. Again, these tools are easy to carry inside a backpack. As long as the battery is fresh, this method always works. Take a piece of steel wool, roll it between your hands so it resembles a short rope, and touch each end to the battery. Once it reddens, drop it onto the catalyst. The other starter than can be relied upon is the Swedish FireSteel.
This two ounce device creates sparks of nearly 5,500°F. A foolproof item that works even when wet, the Swedish FireSteel was developed by the Swedish Department of Defense. No more matches or lighters. Good for you and the environment.
The Fire Feeder
Besides small twigs and sticks, many backpackers have a simple trick to feed the fire once it initially starts. Trick candles. After lighting the catalyst, simply catch a flame with one of the trick candles. These candles continue to relight even when the wind blows ferociously into your fire ring. While the candle remains lit, feed the fire with the materials gathered.
Follow these four simple steps, and starting a fire under the most difficult conditions will never put a strain on your back country adventure again.
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[…] You may want to build a fire for all those chilly nights and wiener roasts, but without the right supplies, it won’t happen. Waterproof matches or a Zippo lighter will assist you with starting the fire. As you gather the supplies you’ll need to build a fire, keep this in mind: You can start a fire under any condition. […]