Know your building’s fire escape routes. Practice them with your family. Do not store items in stairwells, which block exits.
Keep a bed of embers going overnight to restart the fire easily in the morning. Cover with ash to keep them smoldering but not burning.
Use dry inner bark or resinous wood as tinder. Create a sheltered area for the fire using a large leaf or rock. Keep the fire small and protected from wind and rain.
Once the fire is established, push the logs together to create a bed of hot coals. This provides consistent heat for cooking and warmth without the need for constant feeding.
Use dry inner bark or resinous wood as tinder. Create a sheltered area for the fire using a large leaf or rock. Keep the fire small and protected from wind and rain.
Use a piece of char cloth or a cotton ball soaked in petroleum jelly to catch a spark. Transfer the spark to the tinder bundle and blow gently to create a flame.
Prepare a tinder bundle of dry, fluffy material (dry grass, bark fibers, bird feathers). It should be the size of a grapefruit. Keep it dry and ready before starting the fire. A good tinder bundle catches a spark easily.
The ‘Teepee’ structure is best for starting fires as it allows maximum airflow. Once established, switch to a ‘Log Cabin’ or ‘Lean-to’ structure to sustain the fire for cooking or warmth. Ensure the base is clear of debris to prevent ground fires.
The bow drill method requires a fireboard (soft wood), a spindle (straight, dry wood), and a handhold. Spinning the spindle rapidly against the fireboard creates friction, generating an ember that must be transferred to a tinder bundle. Success depends on dry materials and consistent, fast rotation.
