Fire Building 101: An Introduction
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Fire building is an essential survival/prepper skill. Of our five basic needs, fire is energy. In the wilderness fire may be the ONLY type of energy available. I decided this would be the first prepper skill I formally teach the kids (after chainsaws of course…).
Last summer, when we were talking about building fires, I realized that Emily and Alison had never used a lighter or even lit a match. Somehow I had taken for granted that they had. But since we don’t have a fireplace or go camping very much (though this summer we hope to do more), and simply because they are the younger ones and have had fewer “outdoor” opportunities, they had never been taught. So I got out matches and lighters and demonstrated the safe way to use them. I had them both do it, then sent them outside to practice with the lighters and light as many matches as they wanted. In the interim months we’ve continued practicing with both, and now they feel pretty confident.
Yesterday I sat all the kids down in the family room (including Chanse), and discussed how to build a fire (classroom portion). We started off by reviewing that fire needs three things: 1) fuel, 2) oxygen, and 3) an ignition source. We briefly discussed hypothermia and how fire can literally be life-saving. I talked to them about the dangers of fire and how it’s important to keep your fire contained. Then, while still inside, I used some kindling to show them how to set up a small teepee-style stack (with pieces not much bigger than toothpicks), and how I’d leave an opening toward the wind. I laid out additional kindling, of gradually larger pieces, I’d have on hand to use to build the size of the fire. After all had practiced making their kindling teepee, we went outside for the ‘lab portion’ of the class.
It was a gray, chilly, and wet outside. They took their kindling and set it up on the grass. Since I wanted to maximize success, and teach them to use what we have in our kits, I had them use vaseline soaked cotton balls to start the fire (they had previously helped make them for our fire starting kits). They each built their kindling teepee, with the opening facing the wind, over top of their cotton ball (first pulling it apart to separate the fibers). They could use either lighters or matches; we discussed using your body to block the wind and cupping your other hand around the fire to protect it more. They got their fires going, then added larger kindling to make it just a little bigger. All were successful, though it took some longer than others (it’s hard with an age range of 10 to 17 in the same ‘classroom’).
Next time I’ll have them find their own kindling, including making a pile of shavings to get the fire started. Eventually I plan to get them, and Sarah and I, to the point of confidently making a fire with flint and steel.
Teach your kids–and spouse–the skills you know; you may not be around when they are necessary. And remember, “To teach is to learn twice.” -Joseph Joubert
(Wednesday: Sarah’s View)
I think the lack of experience with matches and lighters is a generational difference between us and our kids. Growing up in the 70’s there were plenty of smokers, leaving us plenty of matches and lighters to play with (not to mention those firecrackers!). But we taught our kids to be soooo responsible that we forgot to teach them how to make fire!
I hadn’t thought of that, but you’re exactly right.
This is one of the benefits of living on acreage where you clean up the storm debris by burning in during the burn season. Though my children don’t know very well how to start a fire (the oldest is only 4) they have helped me keep the fire going and supplying it with fuel. As they get older they will continue to learn and perfect these skills.
Though this post reminds me that I do need to work on creating a fire without the lighter or matches, hopefully we’ll get good enough to just use a stick and a board.
I’m not sure I’m even ever going to try the bow drill, so good luck. I figure if I can ‘master’ the flint and steel, even in a collapse I can always carry my flint and I’ll have a knife. But when it comes to primitive skills, something that’s easy today like making fire becomes very difficult (and potentially that much more important…)
If you want to try your hand at flint and steel I believe it is crucial to have a good steel striker. I originally got my steel striker at a Rendezvous almost 20 years ago. It was made by a blacksmith and it will create sparks very easily. I have found through using commercial flint and steel sets that the strikers in those kits are not very good. I used to teach firebuilding at an outdoor education center. Kids seemed to get more and better sparks from my steel than from the steel in the commercial kit.
Many types of rocks, including flint, will make a spark. Anything on the rock hardness scale of 7 and higher will create sparks off a steel. Just pick up sharp edged rocks and strike them with the steel. If you get sparks keep it.
Also look up how to make char cloth. You can buy some online but it’s cheap and easy to make at home. I use my worn out 100% cotton jeans. Char cloth will greatly improve your success rate of using flint and steel. You can use the same process used to char cloth to char cotton balls. Both products work well with ferro rods and old fashioned flint and steel.
Great comment Nate! Most of is new information to me. Any sources for getting a ‘good steel striker’ and/or a flint and steel set? I’ll definitely follow up on char cloth – hadn’t even heard of that before.
Trace,
I am in Ohio and I got my striker locally. However, if in your neck of the woods they hold 18th century festivals, civil war reenactments or other period events there are always vendors who set up shop there. Since you would be dealing with the owner of the company there might be able to haggle with them.
For online sources you can check JAS Townsend. My former employer (outdoor ed. center) used to buy stuff from them until they discovered a local vendor of 18th century equipment. Link: http://jas-townsend.com/index.php?cPath=25&osCsid=0d2ed9ed88e284e2aa2b8db385fdaa7f
Here is a link to the local vendor (for me) I mentioned: http://www.smoke-fire.com/forged-items-fire-ironware-2.asp
Scroll down the page for the kit and if you go to page 3 you will find individual strikers.
Thanks Nate!
Ha. Great post Trace and helpful tips Nate. I still need to teach myself how to build a fire before I show the rest of the family…
Paul do like our forefathers did when they needed to learn a new skill: go to YouTube! Fire building is the easiest and the hardest thing to do. Definitely a skill worth developing. Start slow, “cheat” by using materials that guarantee success, and build from there.
Ha ha. Will do! Youtube then Amazon.