Wilderness Awareness – Wilderness Culture: How to build a fire
Wilderness Culture ~ Wilderness Awareness: How to build a fire ~ revised 2023
How to build a fire by Ryan Brooks – Chief Guide & instructor
A fire requires 3 things. Fuel, Oxygen & heat.
What you will need to begin with is collecting your fuel, planning where to build your fire and using your ignition source. First forage for dry Tinder, then collect your Kindling and lastly gather & split your logs. A dry spot away from heavy gusts of wind and shielded from rain and other moisture will help increase the chances of success in getting your flame established. Building a fire can be a long and strenuous pursuit and sometimes in dire situations discouraging to say the least, however with dedication, forethought and commitment, the warm glow of a steady flame will be your reward for your all your efforts. Patience will be your key.
First begin with your tinder which consists of fine organic material such as Cured Grasses, Dried broom from Coniferous trees such as Spruce or fir and or the bark found on deciduous species such as white & paper Birch. Other sources of tinder will be available to you depending on the forest and eco system your are exploring. Tinder is only a couple of millimetres to half a centimetre in diameter and is very fine to the touch. Tinder is easy to ignite and burns fast so have an adequate supply ready prior to ignition and be ready to add more tinder to start of your fire.
Next you have your kindling. Dry, woody material less than 1 inch in diameter. Kindling can be dried branches to finely split logs. Once your tinder has been lite and the initial stages of your fire have begun to burn, slowly add your smallest pieces of kindling to the base of the flame and build upwards. Be careful not to smoother your fire. Once the flame catches and your initial kindling starts to burn add more and larger pieces of kindling to the top of flame and continue to build upwards to grow your flame. You will start to hear the crackle of the flame as gases inside the kindling start to ignite & grow the flame. Remember a fire needs oxygen to survive. Always be careful not to smoother your fire or disrupt the air flow as it would choke out your flame with smoke. Sometimes gently blowing on the base of the fire can help ignite larger fuels and expand your flame. Remember heat travels upwards.
Lastly, begin to add your larger fuel woods such as logs. Split wood is best as there is a greater surface area to burn. To avoid smothering your fire, heavier logs and fuel wood can be lain adjacent of the fire and a second log can rest partial on the first log and into the base of the flame. Again remember to build upwards and into the direction of any wind to maximize burning potential of your fire. As your larger fuel wood begins to burn away, hot coals will appear at the base of the fire. Coals can be gathered at the centre of your fire and new logs can be added on top to continue to burn. Placement and airflow of your logs will determine speed, rate and intensity of your fire. Closer burning logs will generate larger & more intense flames, while more spaced-out fuels will slow the burn and create hot coals and a more consistent radiating heat.
A good fire begins with an ignition source. Whether it be matches, a Bic lighter, strike anywhere magnesium or some sort of primitive fire starter, always plan ahead and have at least 2 separate fire starting techniques available & packed in a water tight container. Learn & know how to use your ignition source. Planning ahead can save you time and energy and may be the difference between life or death in a severe survival situation.
Things to consider when planning on building a fire include designating a suitable fire pit.
A fire pit consists of a shallow depression into mineral soil to hold the base of your flame and to allow for steady air flow. Around the fire pit large Dry rocks or a medal fire ring should be placed to prevent coals and embers from escaping. The area around the fire pit should be cleared of any debris that may catch and spread the flame. Keep a minimum of 6 feet or 1.8 meters from tents, buildings or overhanging trees. Adequate supply of water and a shovel should be readily available to extinguish a fire that poses the risk of burning out of control. Be aware of any fire restrictions in your region and be cognizant of the weather forecast ahead. NEVER LEAVE A FIRE UNATTENDED.