Fire
During times of need, whether in an urban setting or where one is forced outdoors due to an unforeseen disaster, it is absolutely necessary to have fire skills. For a decent fire to get going you must have a heat/ignition source, some oxygen/air, and a combustible/flammable material that will burn. Almost anything will burn, if the combination of the three are mixed in the proper amounts. Using up fire supplies you have on hand will not take long if all you have are the conventional fire starters such as matches and lighters. In preparation, not too many people want to keep a caseload of matches sitting around and lighters can leak, evaporate, and freeze. Alternative fire starting methods are good to know as a backup. The following is a list of ways to get a fire going.
During times of need, whether in an urban setting or where one is forced outdoors due to an unforeseen disaster, it is absolutely necessary to have fire skills. For a decent fire to get going you must have a heat/ignition source, some oxygen/air, and a combustible/flammable material that will burn. Almost anything will burn, if the combination of the three are mixed in the proper amounts. Using up fire supplies you have on hand will not take long if all you have are the conventional fire starters such as matches and lighters. In preparation, not too many people want to keep a caseload of matches sitting around and lighters can leak, evaporate, and freeze. Alternative fire starting methods are good to know as a backup. The following is a list of ways to get a fire going.
Resources Used to Make Fire
Non-Primitive Methods
Matches: Book Matches
Box Matches
Strike Anywhere Matches
Windproof Matches
Waterproof Matches
Butane Lighter
Ferro Rod and Striker
Magnesium Bar and Striker
Flare
Magnifying Glass
Chocolate and Soda Can
Eye Glasses
Fresnel Lens
Flint
Glycerin and Potassium Permanganate (Other Chemicals)
Sterno
Oil Based Products - Chips
Vaseline and Cotton
Box Matches
Strike Anywhere Matches
Windproof Matches
Waterproof Matches
Butane Lighter
Ferro Rod and Striker
Magnesium Bar and Striker
Flare
Magnifying Glass
Chocolate and Soda Can
Eye Glasses
Fresnel Lens
Flint
Glycerin and Potassium Permanganate (Other Chemicals)
Sterno
Oil Based Products - Chips
Vaseline and Cotton
Dryer Lint (Cotton Towels - Not polyester)
Candles
Battery / 0000 Steel Wool / Wire
Char Cloth
Mirror
Candles
Battery / 0000 Steel Wool / Wire
Char Cloth
Mirror
Primitive Methods
Ice
Pump Spindle
Hand Spindle
Bow and Drill
Fire Plow
I highly recommend learning alternate ways in the event your supply is running low or becomes unavailable. There are a few things I carry with me at all times and they will work when you know how to gather the right materials that will burn, even in the rain. Knowing where to locate combustible materials should be done in advance of an emergency.
Pump Spindle
Hand Spindle
Bow and Drill
Fire Plow
I highly recommend learning alternate ways in the event your supply is running low or becomes unavailable. There are a few things I carry with me at all times and they will work when you know how to gather the right materials that will burn, even in the rain. Knowing where to locate combustible materials should be done in advance of an emergency.
Materials to have at hand could come from this list:
Wood - Trees/Bark/Driftwood
Brush
Grass
Leaves, Pine Needles
Fungus - On Trees/Stumps/Logs
Rubber (Old Tires)
Cloth
Oil - Cooking and Engine
Fuels - Gasoline/Lighter Fluid/Butane
Alcohol
Chemical (Extreme Caution)
Paper/Cardboard
Coal
Having a safe fire is most important as lethal gases will kill you without proper ventilation. I often wonder how many Indians died learning how to get the tee-pee just right? We hear of fatalities in the news all the time where people have tried to use fire for heat in confined spaces and they die from carbon monoxide poisoning. During hard times you may have to figure a way to stay warm and cook safely. Cooking outside solves the obvious problem, but a indoor heat source must be made before a cold hard winter hits and you do not have a wood stove or fireplace when there is no power for whatever reason.
1. One option is a generator (and fuel must be stored for this). A generator can run electrical heaters on an as needed basis. One of the only ways where ventilation is not a major concern if the geni is kept outside.
2. Propane tanks and a propane fueled heater is a great heat source. (Ventilate)
3. Kerosene heaters and K-1 Kerosene stock. (Ventilate)
4. Gas stove burners. (Warning again on ventilation.)
5. Sterno and Candles (Ventilate)
Just a few ideas, but keep in mind that preparing for an in home system, it must be done before costs are too extreme or materials are unavailable. Taking all your needs into one room of your home will allow you to heat a smaller space and conserve valuable resources. During a winter power outage we chose our livingroom as the most comfortable living space. We have heavy lined draperies in that room and we ran plastic sheeting along all openings to seal the room completely. Heating the one room was very easy for the few days we needed to. For long term, we have decided to use the garage and have a quick build fire place put in. The garage accesses the house through the kitchen so we could get to our supplies in there.
