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Survival
by Cpl Paul Millar
This is the first of a three part series looking at a small
selection of survival skills. All the skills presented here are
linked to the basic survival principles; Protection, Location,
Water and Food
If any of these are gone, you won���t have a fire.
Fire Construction
Preparation:
���
Fires can be used for cooking, warmth,
purifying water, signalling and making
tools and equipment.
���
To make and maintain a fire you must
first understand the fire triangle:
Material
Find a suitable spot: dry (or on a platform),
protected from wind, close to your shelter.
Collect your material, preparation is key
here, or your fire will just burn out when
the night is at its coldest:
Tinder
Kindling
Fuel
Purpose
Catches the spark.
Takes the flame to
help burn the fuel.
This is what burns and gives out the heat.
Examples
Birch bark, feathers, wool, dry dead
leaves/grass
Small twigs,
twisted grass.
Dry standing wood, dead branches,
dried dung. Hardwood is best, but takes
more heat/fuel to get burning!
��� Construct a fire wall to reflect heat back towards you. It���s also a great way to dry out damp fuel.
��� Clear a space around your fire; it stops it from spreading to your shelter!
��� Some people (incl. me), place their fire on non-porous rocks, as these can be used later for a variety of tasks, from
cooking to keeping warm. It also protects the ground from damage and is essential in protecting our environment.
Construction:
This depends on the purpose and location of your fire. Here are
a few of the many possibilities:
Teepee
Lean-to
Pyramid
Ignition (covered in-depth
next issue):
Once the tinder and kindling is lit, start with
fuel around the width of your little finger,
and then gradually increase the size.
Everything shown here
is not to be practised
without instruction.
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