Fire is the source of life. Humans and animals cannot do without it because it provides light, heat and energy. If you find yourself in a situation where having a bonfire is essential to ensure survival, there are some skills you need to possess.
Note: This article considers the possibility that you are in a wood or forest with a large supply of lumber. It is also assumed that you have a pocket knife, as you shouldn't venture into a forest without this precious tool; however, in many cases a stone as sharp as a broken flint is sufficient.
Steps
Step 1. Read carefully about the fire, how to use it and the various types of bonfires
-
In survival situations it has three main functions:
- Food preparation;
- Emission of signals;
- Warm up.
-
The wood used for a bonfire can be divided into three categories:
- Bait: soft dry wood material, cedar bark or even dryer fluff;
- Priming: twigs and splinters of wood;
- Wood: branches smaller than a man's wrist.
- The logs are not used in survival conditions, but they are useful for the hut.
- You should use a short spindle because you apply pressure to it and you need to make sure it doesn't crack or bend;
- An upper handle in which to dig a concavity and which can be comfortably held in the left hand to ensure stability;
- A bow with a string to be wrapped once around the spindle and which is used to rotate the latter with a saw movement;
- A string, the boot lace is fine because it is very long.
- The fire spreads rapidly with the wind, then carefully clears the ground within a radius of several meters around the bonfire. If there are stones, use them to contain the fire.
- Carve the notches carefully, because the small knife is an indispensable tool for survival but it is also very dangerous; proceed with caution so as not to injure yourself and not to damage the blade.
Method 1 of 7: Preparation
Step 1. Collect wood
You need to have enough bait, bait, and wood to feed the flames. Make sure that Not is wet or green, otherwise you only create a lot of smoke and few flames; consequently, avoid the leaves in any way. To understand if the wood is suitable for lighting a bonfire, check that you can break it clearly; if the branch bends, it is not suitable as firewood.
Step 2. Clear the ground by clearing a large circle in which to install the bonfire
The circular area should be at least 2m away from trees.
Step 3. Arrange the stones forming a small circle in the center
You should choose large rocks, 2-4 times bigger than your fist, to prevent the flames from spreading; when you light a fire in nature, outline it always the perimeter with stones.
Step 4. Create a large base with the bait in the center so that it is ready to welcome the embers
Step 5. Add a small amount of trigger to hold the flames once the lure has ignited
Method 2 of 7: Create the Ember
Step 1. Find a piece of wood that is shaped like a plank
Step 2. Dig a coin-sized concavity along the edge
Step 3. Make a notch in the shape of a "V" that starts from the concavity and reaches the edge of the axis
Step 4. Find a very long stick whose end fits into the concavity and notch of the board
This stick represents the spindle.
Step 5. Put the best quality bait under the notch
Embers are created in this area.
Step 6. Insert the end of the spindle into the notch
Step 7. Rotate it by moving your hands back and forth
Step 8. Continue like this until you see embers (it is not uncommon for it to take more than 30 minutes)
When you notice smoke, you must continue to vigorously rotate the melt until the embers appear; at this moment your strength is almost exhausted, but it is essential not to give in otherwise you have to start over.
Method 3 of 7: Arch and Handle Technique
Note: this method is preferable to the previous one, because it allows you to use one arm at a time and with a simpler movement; in addition, the hands do not become blistered due to friction.
Step 1. Collect all the materials needed to make a "bow drill":
Step 2. Build the drill
The tool, once completed, is not very different from what you see in the image; wrap the string once around the spindle and tie the ends to the ends of the bow. Put the melt on the wooden board on which you want to create the embers and finally place the "handle" on top of it to ensure stability.
Step 3. Move the bow back and forth while maintaining firm downward pressure to generate friction and then ignite the embers
Method 4 of 7: Light the Fire
Step 1. Blow the embers into the pile of bait until the bait catches fire
This may take several minutes; the smoke increases more and more until the flames are generated. Remember not to blow too hard, otherwise you turn off the embers and risk having to start over.
Step 2. Place the pile of bait in the circle of the bonfire to light the hookbait and the rest of the material you set up earlier
Step 3. Keep adding twigs until they burn effortlessly
Step 4. Slowly add the firewood until it generates a stable fire
At this point, you can cook and make signals; before, the bonfire was not big and hot enough to cook, and the technique of emitting signals could have put it out.
Step 5. Add wood every few hours to keep the fire going all night
Step 6. When you no longer need it and are ready to leave the area, turn it off completely, so that the material is cool to the touch
Undo the stone circle and restore it to its original condition as much as possible.
Method 5 of 7: Cooking
Step 1. Ideally, if you have a cable available, improvise a tripod and hang a pot over the flames
Step 2. If you don't have a string, arrange the firewood to create a flat enough surface to support the pan
Make sure the fire is touching the pot.
Step 3. If you don't have a pan, use a rock
Place a large, flat one on the stove to heat it up and use it as if it were a frying pan.
Method 6 of 7: Send Signals
Step 1. Add a branch full of green leaves to the fire once it is well established
With this technique you generate a large cloud of smoke; proceed only when the flames are strong and well fed so as not to risk suffocating them.
Step 2. Prepare an emergency signal system
Leave the leaves attached to the branch to be able to raise and lower them on the fire as needed: if you know the Morse alphabet, send the signal for help with puffs of smoke.
Method 7 of 7: Warm up
Step 1. Dry all wet clothes
This operation is very important because even when there is snow on the ground it is better to stay naked in front of the fire rather than with wet clothes on. Wet cotton is the worst fabric (especially sweatshirts and sweatpants) and takes away all heat quickly.
Step 2. Build a facility for clothes to dry
If you wish, you can simply hold them in front of the campfire, but make sure the shoe soles or fabrics do not melt or catch fire.
