Nowadays, bonfire skills, especially if you live in civilized areas of the country, are no longer so necessary as, say, just a century ago. But every person sometimes wants something adventurous. Even age is not a hindrance to somehow suddenly go on a trip with tents or succumb to the calls of energetic friends this summer to rest savages. And for children there are scout camps (instead of the former pioneer ones, but at the same time in “savage” conditions), which have recently become very popular. And if your child the scout instructor can easily learn the skills necessary for survival (and quite comfortable), then in a camping trip you will have to cope on your own (well, with the tips of experienced friends).
One of the most useful skills in a "wild" campaign will be the ability and knowledge of how to make a fire in any conditions, and even more so with improvised means. And even if you later boo this ability only when grilling kebab where there is no barbecue, you will still be proud of yourself!
Types of open fire
To begin with, strangely enough for a city dweller, a bonfire can be different. For example, a fire-well is made in the form of a house without a roof like a wooden log house: the logs are laid out in a square, inside of which, in fact, the fire burns. From such a hearth, the flame is low and wide, it is convenient to cook porridge or soup on it. The bonfire star is made up of thick knots folded with the ends of a cross. It is very good for spending the night: you do not need to constantly monitor it, just occasionally move the logs to the center of the hearth. Another bonfire that is very suitable for a forest lodging is taiga. The logs are placed one on top of the other, as a layer add chips, small branches, chips - for ignition. The log below should be thicker. Such a bonfire burns all night and does not go out by morning, it will even be possible to make a seagull. Although in a campaign it is unlikely to be useful. The greatest benefit from it will be when firing between barriers, and bilateral, because it is intended either to protect against large predators, or to warm in severe frosts. Although knowing how to make a fire of this type will not be superfluous. The hunting bonfire will be simpler: three not very thick, but not thin logs are placed on the lining - and it also does not require attention, burns up to 8 hours, only move the burned to the fire.
It can be useful to have a bonfire that has come to us, judging by the name, from Polynesia. It is known to Russian hunters and prospectors as a hole. He has several advantages. First of all, you don’t wonder where the bonfire can be built, for “polynesia” a hole is dug up, so that the fire hazard is reduced to almost zero, especially since the pitted walls are laid out with stone or soaked logs. In principle, a Polynesian bonfire is more likely a spyware or intelligence one: if it is placed under a stone visor or under a thick tree, the hearth will not be visible from any direction. A prerequisite for a Polynesian spy campfire is smokeless firewood.
A few small ones are better than one large
It would be nice to remember that small bonfires are easier to maintain in a capable state than large ones, and they consume less fuel. And at the same time, several “babies” located around will warm better than a huge pioneer bonfire.
Right place
The main condition when choosing a meadow where you can make a fire is fire safety. If it is surrounded by dead wood, or the whole meadow in dry grass, look for another. A fire in the forest is an apocalyptic thing, and you yourself will not be saved, and destroy the forest for many kilometers around.
Wet, rain or wind
If you have to think about how to make a bonfire on wet soil, remember the need for a layer between wet soil and fire. It will help when the bonfire needs to be laid out in the snow. As a "laying" dry logs will be an ideal option. But there is often nowhere to take them. Then your choice is stones. Even wet, they dry much faster than wood and become reliable protection against unnecessary water. If the weather is combined with the wind, it is worth remembering about reflectors. They will prevent blowing out of the fire and the spread of fire in undesirable directions. Reflectors can even be polyethylene panels, which are taken instead of raincoats, only they need to be placed away from the fire. In addition, a well-placed reflector will help to direct the heat in the right direction.
Fuel is important
Knowing how to make a bonfire in the forest, you will not be mistaken with the choice of the kindling and "feeding" for the fire. Dead wood would be ideal, and it would be nice to use dry branches on a still living tree. It’s not always worth taking even seductive firewood from the ground: if the last days were rains, the logs were at least wet, and if the rains were long, then they rotted. The best bonfire are pine, spruce, alder and birch. But remember: the birch shoots! Rowan, larch and aspen heat give a little. Fresh needles smoke, and dry needles sparkle, which is dangerous for eyes, clothes, and a fire can happen. But there is a good way how to make a fire in a forest soaked from rain. The recently fallen tree, quite possibly, has kept dry wood inside the trunk. Knowing this, it is easy to make a fire.
Kindling is also important.
Dry chips, spruce and pine boughs, lichen (only dry!), Dried threads of a mushroom, raincoat, fern, again, dry rotten rot - that’s what should attract your attention. The exfoliated birch bark (attention: the tree must be alive!) Is very resinous, flares up instantly, but shoots, when making a fire it is better to move a little. Dry stumps can also come in handy, even if the stump is wet on top, it is worth picking it up, and kindling is available. It is folded by a hut and perfectly kindles thin branches, from which thick ones light up.
When the fire is already burning
Suppose everything worked out, and the bonfire itself maintains the right flame. The main task now is to maintain the fire so that it does not go out. How to make a fire is one task, and how to keep it is completely different. Saving fire requires much less effort than raising it, so it’s worth a little attention to the fire. The wind is one of the main enemies. If it is very strong, you will have to block the fire from blowing out. At night, in principle, the fire should be extinguished, but if the winter, cold, and the bonfire are not located under branches available for fire, then you can leave it to warm the night, only take precautions. The main ones: the flame should not be violent and high, the burning place should be fenced with stones or something non-combustible. If weather conditions do not annoy, you need to fill the coals with ash, they will not go out at all, and in the morning you can revive the fire.
There are matches, or no matches
Of course, if you always have matches with you, then in an uncivilized campaign you have a chance not to hit your face in the dirt. But many people today do not smoke, and, accordingly, do not have matches. And those who smoke do not think about preserving their source of fire. And the memo “How to make a bonfire” does not always contain a reminder: “Keep matches dry!” But this is the most important thing: if the matches are wet, you are unlikely to light the driest firewood.
But if not?
Of course, the option when you find yourself surrounded by wildlife without matches is unlikely. It may sound like an exciting adventure novel, but it happens. I went for mushrooms - I got lost ... Strayed from the group - you wait for the morning ... You will need a tinder for any methods of alternative fire production. The tinder is made of any dry flammable material: bark, wood, filling and components of bird nests, etc. If you suspect that you are stuck in the described conditions not until the evening, the tinder must be protected, that is, hidden, for example, in a plastic bag and make sure that there is no moisture.
Ways
Extreme situation: there are no matches, help will come soon (if it does). How to make a fire without matches, becomes an urgent problem. If you have at least a camera or a flashlight, you are already lucky: their lens focuses on the tinder, and you already have a bonfire. Especially if the sun has not set yet. If the village - wait until tomorrow. But if there is a wire of steel and a bar of wood, you can not wait for the sun. Drive back and forth along the bar (fast!), And if you are lucky, light something flammable.
With cartridges it will be more fun and easier. If only there was no wind. Gunpowder is poured from a pair of cartridges near the base of the folded hut. Then we take 2 relatively smooth stones. Gunpowder was falling on one of them, and three stones were above it. Powder will ignite from a spark, and from it a kindling.
How to make a fire in the forest, we already know. It remains to be puzzled by the question: "How not to get scared?"
Not to get lost is the main thing. And even if it seems that badgers will eat you up, fight! In principle, badgers are not so scary animals ...