http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-light-a-fire/

Food Living Outside Play Technology Workshop

How to light a fireby paintballworld on March 8, 2009

Table of Contents

How to light a fire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Intro: How to light a fire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Step 1: Tinder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Step 2: Kindline . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Step 3: Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Step 4: Clear a circle around the fire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Step 5: Set up . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Step 6: Log cabion method . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Step 7: Pyramid method . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Step 8: Lean too . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Step 9: Cross ditch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Step 10: Star method . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Step 11: Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Step 12: Works Cited . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Related Instructables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

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Intro: How to light a fireFirst rate and review!

Lighting a fire is only half the battle. The way you build a fire - that is, how you arrange the wood - can affect how long the fire will last and the amount of heat it'll give offduring that time. This article will provide an overview of "fire architecture" so you can build the perfect fire for your circumstances.

1. Get an ignition source. The most obvious choice is a lighter or matches

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Step 1: TinderGather tinder, which catches the initial spark or flame and transfers it to the kindling. If the kindling is damp or wet, the tinder must burn long enough to dry out thekindling.[1] You can turn dry sticks and pieces of bark into powdery tinder with a knife. You can also use:

dead dry plants and grasseswaxlintchar clothmosswood shavingspaperpine pitchdry needles from coniferous treesfire sticksfire starters

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Step 2: KindlineGather kindling. Kindling needs a large surface to volume ratio so it can produce a very hot flame that's transferred to the main fuel. Good sources: dry twigs and woodpieces, cardboard, large pieces of wood cut into small pieces, fuzz sticks (shavings cut into sticks, but still attached).

Step 3: Fuel3. Gather fuel. Fuel burns slowly and steadily for an extended period of time. Sources include dry wood, twisted dry grasses, peat, animal dung, and coal. Green or wetfuel can be used, but only once the fire is established; it'll be dried by the heat and burn more slowly than dry fuel.[1]

Softwoods/conifers/evergreens have leaves in the shape of needles. They burn quickly and very hot, and they also contain flammable resins that help withbuilding a fire. Because of this, they're often used for kindling as well, since they're easier to ignite than hardwoods.[1]Hardwoods have broad flat leaves and they don't catch fire as easily as softwoods. Once they do, however, they burn for a longer period of time and give off moreheat.[1]Look for branches at the bottom of a tree, nothing off the ground (it's likely to be too damp).It may be necessary to know How to Split Hardwood Firewood or How to Split Gnarly FirewoodYou can also Make Logs from Newspapers.

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Step 4: Clear a circle around the fireClear a circular area about four feet in diameter. Build a ring of rocks or dig a fire pit that's several inches deep. Constructing a ring of stones will insulate the fire.Alternatively, building a fire wall with logs or rocks will reflect the fire's heat, especially if you'll only be on one side of the fire (because otherwise the heat sent off in theother direction is wasted). If the ground is wet or covered with snow, build a platform out of green logs and cover them with a layer of earth or stones. Always have abucket of water next to you in case the fire starts burning outside the base. You can also Build a Fire in a Hubcap.

Step 5: Set upPlace the tinder in a pile of kindling that's spaced loosely enough to let air circulate, but close enough so a flame can spread through. Light the tinder and add kindling. Asthe fire grows, add firewood. Now here's where your inner architect can shine through...choose one of the following arrangements:

*Tepee - Arrange tinder and a few sticks of kindling in the shape of a cone and light the center. The outside logs will fall inward and feed the fire. Burns well with wet wood.

Step 6: Log cabion methodLog cabin method - Stack layers alternating in direction, forming walls around a tepee. Air between sticks allows circulation of air. The "chimney effect" will suck air inthrough the bottom and let it exit through top as strong flame

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Step 7: Pyramid methodPyramid - This is like the log cabin method, except the layers get smaller as they reach the top, and there is no tepee inside. Place two small logs or branches on theground so that they're parallel to each other, then put a solid layer of small logs or branches on top of them in a perpendicular direction. Add three or four more layers,each time alternating the direction, and each layer being smaller than the one before. Light the top of the pyramid on fire, and it will burn downwards on its own.

Step 8: Lean tooLean-to - Push a green stick into the ground at a 30 degree angle, pointing in the direction of the wind. Put tinder underneath and lean sticks of kindling against the mainstick. Light the tinder and add more kindling as needed.

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Step 9: Cross ditchCross-ditch - Scratch a cross in the ground that's 30cm or 12" in diameter. Make it 7.5cm or 3" deep and put a big wad of tinder in the middle. Build a pyramid out ofkindling over the middle. The ditch will allow air to flow through and feed the fire.

Step 10: Star methodStar - With this arrangement, you can push the logs inward to increase heat, and pull them out to decrease heat. It's particularly helpful if you're trying to conserve fuel

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Step 11: TipsTips

If it's a small branch that is still attached to the tree, but has no bark, it will be an excellent intermediate between your tinder and kindling.All the fuel must be dry; a good test is to see how easily things snap instead of bend, especially for the twigs. If it bends, it's safe to say it's damp.

Step 12: Works CitedFor some reason my works cited page didnt load thanks for letting me know, all this came from:www.wilderness-survival-skills.com/how-to-make-a-fire.html

and a little bit of my knowledge.

Related Instructables

How to make afire byNoname23

Tin Can Fire bydragonrising

How to start afire with aflashlight. byJayV

Petroball FireStarters bychokapi

Starting a firewith a firesteelby TheALOwens

How to Start aFire With aDisposableCamera FireStarter / Taserand Steel Wool(video) bySurvivalCentral

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Comments

6 comments Add Comment

Mr. Muggle says: Jan 2, 2010. 6:07 AM REPLYI thought it seemed familiar:

www.wilderness-survival-skills.com/how-to-make-a-fire.html

paintballworld says: Mar 25, 2012. 2:43 PM REPLYThanks for letting me know for some reason 3 pages of this didn't load 1 being my works cited. sorry that I didn't catch it sooner.Thanks again.

Mammad says: Aug 21, 2011. 6:24 PM REPLYwhere should the tinder and kindling be placed?

Don,t try this at home says: May 2, 2011. 2:44 PM REPLYThe way i make my fire its a cross between a Pyramid method and the log cabion method with alot of dryed grass in between. It lights so fast lol.

scafool says: Oct 20, 2009. 5:39 AM REPLYYou need to do a better job of giving credit to your sources.

GalaxyX says: Mar 18, 2009. 9:34 PM REPLYReally nice man very detailed. it helped me a lot, i was always able too just make a fire and throw some twigs on it but never make an actual proper fire, wellnow i know thanks!

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