Survival Fire - Master the Art of Building a Fire

Ring of Comfort in Time of Survival Need!

Call it survival fire, cookout fires, campfire or whatever you want to, there is nothing that can compare to the comfort of a nice, warm, crackling fire whether indoors or out...not to mention the tremendous satisfaction of conquering nature with a blaze when you start your fire with natural resources.

BUT...You would be amazed at how many folks have a nice fireplace in their home and don't have a clue how to build a fire in it!

It may be because of fear or just plain never having a need for using it but just let something happen like a power outage for several days in the middle of winter and they will be glad for any little bit of advice on how to build a survival fire, as by then that is really what it is!

In the outdoors a fire is often very vital in an emergency situation, and the basis to survival as a means of cooking food, heating water, signal for help, heat, and just plain for comfort.


Waking up in the morning to a warm crackling fire and the smell of coffee makes anything more bearable. =)

HOW To Start a Survival Fire...

• First of all, make sure your fire area is clean of debris and safe to use. Circle it with rocks if you have those available and scrape the ground bare.(make sure they are dry as rocks from a creek or riverbed are often full of moisture and will explode when they get heated up),
  
  If you want to use your fire mainly for heat, you will want to have it close to your tent or whatever you are staying in but if you only need it to cook some food with, then you may want to move it further away so you won't be fighting smoke and get your belongings all smokey as well.
  
  
• NEXT, it depends on what you HAVE to start a fire with. Do you have some kindling?? Fire starters?? (Magnesium fire starters work really well as you can start a fire in almost ANY kind of weather and don't have to worry about wet matches, etc...
  
  
• Gather small kindling if you are in a woodsy area....bark, dry grass, small twigs, old birds nests, dry rotted logs, pine needles... all work really well as kindling. If you don't have any of this, a small scrap of clothing works as well.
  
  You can make your own tinder that can be packed into your wilderness pack....stick cotton balls into vaseline as they ignite and burn quick...stash them into an old film container or other small container. Plus, you can find home-made tender recipes online that can be made into a cake like bar and stuffed into your backpack.
  
• As you make a small tee-pee shaped pile of kindling, remember that fire needs oxygen so don't pile it too tight.
  
• Light it from the bottom, never try to start a fire from the top down and as it starts to burn, carefully lay bigger twigs crisscross over the top of it, being careful not to smother your newly lit fire.
  
• I always like to have some bigger wood gathered BEFORE I start a fire as it is really frustrating to finally get a fire started only to have it go out as you are looking for more wood!

Survival Fire Starter Methods...

There are various ways to start a fire and if you have not done so already, I recommend adding a magnesium fire starter to your survival kit.

Imagine yourself in the worst kind of weather at the worst possible time and you find yourself forced into a survival situation, and it will help you determine what kinds of survival fire starters to pack for YOUR needs...

• Matches is the first thing people think of when starting fires and rightfully so. It is the easiest way, in most cases, especially if you have water-proof matches. you can make your own water-proof matches by dipping the ends of wooden matches in melted wax
  
  Once your matches get wet, they are the most frustrating way to get a fire going!
  
  
• Lighters are great but you also need to keep them dry. A good idea for any survival kit is to have a few lighters, along with your water-proof matches, and a magnesium starter sealed in a plastic bag.
  
  
• Magnesium fire starters is a great way to get a fire going. It burns really hot and is better in wet conditions than matches or a lighter, and also in my opinion than the old fashioned flint and steel method.

Here is another great article on how to build a survival fire...