Once in the forest, it doesn’t matter if it’s a hunt or a camping trip, a person is faced with the need to make a fire. Depending on the season and needs, there are several types of bonfires. There are very popular ones, for example, a "hut", but there are those that very rarely get divorced - a "Polynesian".
Ignition Rules
Before you start a fire, you need to choose a place, make sure that the flame does not spread to the vegetation. If it is winter or just the earth is wet, then under the fire it is necessary to prepare the base of stones or logs.
Then follows the stage of kindling, for which you can use the following materials:
- tree bark;
- rotten, even if they are wet, the inside will always be dry;
- dry chips;
- fluff suitable for both plants and birds;
- mushrooms raincoats, but only dried.
Material for kindling is placed in a tent or laid between logs.
Types and purpose
Depending on the need, the type of bonfire is chosen, it may be necessary to cook food or dry clothes. Do not forget that fire can warm or dry only those objects that are facing it, so a reflector may be required. In addition, the reflector will cause smoke to rise up. Fire in a fire is easier to maintain than re-breed. At night it is better not to leave a fire, but to sprinkle the coals with ash, then it will be easier to light a fire in the morning.
Types of bonfires and their purpose:
- Flaming, that is, having a high temperature and requiring constant attention, these are the “hut”, “Finnish candle” and “well”.
- Fire, not requiring constant monitoring. Such a fire burns for a long time and allows you to dry your clothes and quickly warm up. This is a taiga look and "node."
- Signal or smoke. Used to signal or to repel annoying insects.
Hut
This is the most popular type of bonfire. Photos of such a fire can be seen in every family archive, as it helps to keep warm and it is convenient to cook food on it. It is very simple to breed and it quickly flares up. However, the temperature of such a fire is very high, it quickly burns out, so it will take a lot of firewood to maintain it.
It is being built very simply, firewood is laid out like a hut. The "entrance" to the bonfire must be arranged on the windy side.
Star
Quite popular type due to its versatility and ease of construction. Thick logs must be laid out in the shape of a star around the kindling material. As it burns, the logs are moved closer to the center. Ideal for cooking and heating. It is better to choose a log from solid breeds of wood, birch, oak or maple.
The disadvantages of this type of bonfire include the fact that it is afraid of rain. Also, fairly thick logs are required, which will require a tool, a saw or an ax, but this is a very economical fire.
Fireplace
Ideal for night heating. For the construction of a “fireplace” 4 short logs will be required. They are arranged in a circle, a fire is built inside. On the one hand, you need to make an inclined wall and drive in two pegs that tilt out. Logs and logs are laid out on these stakes. As the lower logs burn out, the upper ones roll down, thus maintaining a focus for a long time. The disadvantages include the fact that you need a fairly large amount of wood, and for the construction of the structure - certain skills.
Pyramid or grid
This type is suitable for almost all cases, you can warm up and spend the night near it, there is a lot of light from it.
The design consists of logs laid in transverse layers in the shape of a pyramid. The ignition is carried out from above. The main advantage is long burning, but on condition that there will be thick logs. Therefore, you will have to take blanks or tools to the forest.
With reflector
The main difference between this type of campfire is that a hill or a stone is mainly used as a reflector. Bred necessarily from the leeward side. The reflector can be made of logs, preferably wet. Thus, it is possible to dry the logs and direct the heat of the fire in the right direction.
Suitable for night heating and can even be kindled in a single-hut. You can light up near the tent, but at a safe distance.
Taiga
This type also includes the Tunguska bonfire, the "gun" and the "focus of the hunter", all of them have the same design. Duration of burning can reach 8 hours.
On a thick log, which is called podjurlok, put 2-3 smaller, slightly pushing them forward. Then create something like a fan, with a wide part below. The hearth is located below, as it burns, the logs are shifted closer to the hearth. Such a bonfire can be made even on snow-covered land.
Nodia
What types of bonfires are still commonly used? "Nodia", which can consist of 1 log or 2, 3, and even four. They build it on the ground, if it is dry, but if the weather is wet or snow, then it is necessary to lay transverse logs. Thick logs (about 30 cm in diameter) and long (2-3 meters) are laid at a distance of 10 centimeters, a fire is fired between them. For firing, fine brushwood or dry leaves with branches are used. So that the logs do not roll, it is recommended to drive the stakes between them.
As soon as the logs begin to burn, they put another, second and so on. Such a bonfire can burn up to 36 hours, and around it several people can warm up. If necessary, you can build a screen.
Special types of bonfire
Special, called bonfires, which are only a modification of the main structures, or is combined.
The Finnish Candle. Such a bonfire involves the creation of a “chamber”, where the burning process inside the log itself will take place.
One of the options: the log is split into several parts, the core is scraped off and a small chute is cut out at the bottom of the workpiece. Before lighting a fire inside a log, the structure is pulled together with wire.
The second option is to make cross cuts in the workpiece, approximately Âľ of the entire length. This bonfire is ideal for cooking.
"Lazy candle." This is actually a modification of the “Finnish candle”. 3 identical logs are selected, notches are made. The blanks are placed vertically and tightly to each other. The fire is raised from above.
"Kamelek". An ideal solution for places where it is difficult to find suitable logs. Bonfire must be stoned on three sides. Suitable for heating water and cooking in a small amount.
"Trench". Such a bonfire will allow you to cook for a large company. It can be ignited in a field in windy weather. To do this, you need to dig a ditch, about 1 meter long, with a depth of 30 centimeters, a width of about 500 centimeters. At the bottom of the trench must be laid out with stones, having built something like a barbecue. Firewood is stacked on top.
Signaling
Types of bonfires and their names used to give a distress signal:
- Smoke The main objective of such a fire is the maximum amount of smoke that can be seen even from an airplane. It is necessary to lay out logs in the form of a hut, light a fire and cover with branches of evergreen plants or, in their absence, with long grass or leaves.
- Pioneer. Known for their bright flame, they are constructed in the form of a tripod or a triangle of long logs. All wood is installed vertically. This design always gives a high flame, but you will need to plant grass and branches, so that there is a lot of smoke.
Bit of exotic
The types of bonfires and their names with photos, of course, can be found a lot on the Internet, but the description and image of the Polynesian is rare. Such a fire shield is rarely bred on the territory of our country, since there is very little use for such a structure.
For the construction you will need to dig a hole, with a depth of about 30 centimeters, and overlay the walls with stones. At the bottom of the logs are installed vertically. Such a bonfire is practically invisible and not afraid of rain. Such a fire burns for a long time and does not require a lot of wood. To avoid a lot of smoke, usually another pit is pulled out nearby and both trenches are connected.
We make a fire without matches
It is not always possible to keep matches dry, and very often a lighter fails. In this case, you can use a magnifying glass or glasses, the same camera lens, to make a campfire. To ignite in this situation, you should use dry shredded foliage, bark with resin, moss and even bird fluff.
To keep matches on a long journey, you can use zip-lock bags, you can put a full package of matches in such bags. You can use airtight containers, or an ordinary jar.
Paraffin or wax can be used to protect matches. At the same time, not only the head should be covered, but also wood. To cover the match, the wax is melted in a metal bowl. It is best to use a steam bath and do not overheat paraffin, the water should be on the verge of boiling.
If the matches are still wet, you can even dry them on your own body, in the liver or on the neck. You can wrap them in toilet paper, which quickly absorbs moisture.