Pack
aCheck
Now that it’s Winter your ability to
make fire maybe the difference between surviving or not in
an emergency situation. As Gary Morris said in our last
general meeting you should have several ways of making fire
in your rescue pack and also you should keep some fire
making materials on your person in case you should ever get
separated from your pack during an outing. TRSAR recommends
that your carry at least three ways to make fire during a
mission. Here are five ways your might consider.
1. Waterproof Matches. Your
can purchase these at outdoor stores like Cabela’s, Bass
Pro, REI or even in the camping section of Walmart.
2. Magnesium Fire Starting Tool.
Similar to flint and steel this tool works by scrapping
magnesium off a small block and then lighting the metal
scrapings by creating a spark with the metal scrapper on a
flint like material. Magnesium lights easily and creates an
extremely hot flame (even when wet) to start a fire.
3. Butane Lighter. You can
pick these up in any grocery or drug store. The disposable
kind works fine in non-windy conditions but you might want
to get the windproof kind or a butane torch cigar lighter.
They are generally more expensive and are refillable but
work a lot better in windy conditions.
4. Magnifier. This can also
serve as a handy tool for finding that splinter or cactus
needle that you have stuck in your finger. Remember that
this tool does not work at night or on cloudy days so it has
it’s limitations.
5. Battery and Steel Wool.
Most of us have plenty of batteries for our radios, GPS or
flashlights. All you have to do is carry some steel wool in
a small waterproof container and you have a fire starting
tool. Connect the steel wool to the two terminals of the
battery but be careful not to burn yourself.
Also see
http://www.rei.com/category/40006515
or
http://www.cabelas.com/catalog/browse/camping-survival-navigation-fire-starters-lighters/_/N-1100736/Ns-CATEGORY_SEQ_104321880
Don’t forget some tinder or other
flammable material to help get your fire started. Most of
the places we go do not have dry wood to burn. Getting damp
wood or even cold wood to start burning requires a good
fire starter or tinder that will burn long enough to heat it
up and dry it out. Some good things to carry with your
fire starting kit include:
1. Dryer lint - Collected from
your dryer between drying your clothes. If you don’t
remember to remove this stuff from your dryer filter between
loads you will eventually find out what a great fire starter
it is.
2.
Cotton Balls soaked in
Vaseline.
3. Fire Starter Sticks or Cubes
- Buy these at camping supply stores listed above.
4. Insect Repellant - Some
insect repellant is very flammable and can serve a dual
purpose as a fire starter. Make sure your’s works by
testing it at home before you rely on it in the field.
All of the above needs to be carried
in waterproof containers or a Ziploc bags. Tinder is
generally used to get the next larger stuff lit so your can
finally get the real wood dried and warmed up enough to
burn. The next larger stuff consists of the driest burnable
small stuff you can find like small dry twigs found in
sheltered spots under trees or rock overhangs, Cedar bark (
Stripped, Rubbed and Fluffed up into a fuzzy wad or just
find a dry Pack Rat‘s nest…and he will have prepared the
fluff for you ) or dry grass if you can find it. Before you
start lighting your fire make sure you have plenty of this
stuff ready go along with the driest wood you can find.
Find a good place to build your fire
out of the wind and cleared of any combustibles so that it
doesn’t get out of your control. “Remember… Only You Can
Prevent Forest Fires”.
Now you’re cooking!
Stay safe out there,
Greg 521
