In the world of Bushcraft and Survival, fire is essential because it keeps you warm, allows you to cook, gives light, while it also keeps your morale up! After a day in the woods, nothing beats sitting next to a warm bushcraft fire with a hot drink and relaxing; but first, you must learn to build a fire. This skill will come in handy when you find great spots to go bushcrafting in the UK.
Fire building, also known as fire craft, is the art of learning to make fires in the context of your surroundings. There are numerous ways to ignite a fire, as well as numerous primitive materials from which to construct one. When camping or trekking, making a fire is sometimes the most vital thing you can do to stay alive. Knowing how to light and maintain a fire will help you stay warm, cook food, purify water, and if required, signal for aid.
1. Choosing A Tinder
Tinder is a lightweight substance that produces a small flame that can be used to start firing smaller pieces of wood. There are several types of tinder available, both natural and man-made. Birchbark, dry dead grass, Clematis down, and feather sticks are some of the most well-known natural tinders. If done right, a feather stick can also take a spark. Man-made tinders, such as cotton wool balls, tumble dryer lint, and even a shredded egg box, can also be used. Make sure to carry some tinder with you when you’re going bushcrafting.
2. Kindling
Kindling is little twigs and branches that catch easily and fast in the flame that the tinder produces. Dead standing trees or dead branches that have fallen off the tree and become hung up are the ideal places to look for this type of wood. Twigs of pencil thickness are perfect, but they must be dry; a good test for this is if the branch snaps and makes a cracking sound, if it does you’re ready to go. If you can’t find any suitable kindling, you can make your own by splitting larger pieces of wood until they reach the desired thickness, and then feathering them to ensure they catch on fire.
3. Getting Larger Fire Wood
It’s important to collect some larger firewood, just like the thick kindling you collected earlier. You will need to start with the smaller pieces of wood and work your way up to the larger wood you’ve gathered. Split wood burns more quickly than uncut wood, so splitting some wood to make it easier to catch is worthwhile, and once you have a good strong fire going, you can add whole logs.
4. Finally, Get Your Fire Going
To begin, prepare the area where the fire will be built. Clear all leaf litter, dried grass, and small twigs well away from the fire pit. If the ground is damp, it is a good idea to put a wooden base down to keep the fire off the wet ground. Place your tinder on top of your base. Add a few small pieces of kindling in a Tent shape. When your tinder is lit, slowly add your Kindling and allow it to catch fire. As the fire grows stronger, add more and more fuel until you get the amount of fire you want, then sit back and relax!
Bushcraft skills are practical techniques for getting food, water, shelter, and clothing in the woods, and creating “the bush”, utilising natural materials found nearby. Bushcrafters are those who practise and follow these skills and practices. Bushcraft is more than just a survival skill; in addition to surviving, bushcrafters practise thriving in any environment they find themselves in.