Firestarting: A Lost Art

Fire Starting Kit I=ve built and maintained a fire starting kit for many years. I=m a proponent of using the simplest way possible to start a cooking or camp fire. Usually that is the traditional tinder, kindling, fuel fire started with a lighter. But after many years I=ve learned that redundancy of one of the most important survival tools and is wise. (Two is one and one is none) Here is a list of what I keep in my kit. It has changed throughout the years as I learn or find new methods. Tinder: Cotton balls soaked in Vaseline or alcohol and let dry Commercial starting sticks Homemade fire starter (dryer lint in toilet paper rolls, cut to disks, covered in paraffin) Newspaper (3 inch strips rolled tightly, tied with cotton string, dipped in paraffin) Or folded newspaper Magic Indian Water (lighter fluid or alcohol in small squeeze container) I told my Scouts it was magic water Hand Sanitizer Cedar chips (hamster bedding)/sawdust and dryer lint Kerosene lantern wick Char cloth Steel Wool (#0000 or #000 super fine grade from hardware stores) Starters Magnifying glass Flint and steel ( I use a shortened file for my steel) Magnesium bar and striker Matches (strike anywhere) in weather proof container 2 Lighters (Bic store longer) Sparker and scraper (there are many brands, I use Fire Steel) Trioxane tablets(Trioxane is a solid fuel that has been in use by the US Military for many decades to heat individual rations or start fires in the field.) Fire keepers Birthday and tub candles Pre-made Abirdsnests@ Small alcohol stove Hacksaw blade (to cut tinder, kindling, and as a second scraper) Singleside razor (to shave mag bar, to feather sticks, cut tinder) This kit represents a large variety of ways to start a fire. Firebuilding is another skill that has all but vanished. Our kids grew up in a home with a wood stove so they had ample oportunities to learn to build a fire. Try this in a fire pit in your back yard, or on a grill. It's not as easy as it sounds.Remember the basics of fire: Tinder, Kindling, Fuel. Also, fire needs 3 things: Oxygen, Spark, and Fuel. Take one away and you won't have fire. Finding several ways to start a camp fire is something that may save your life one day. Fire can be used for warmth, cooking, boiling water, and of course light. If you want some great training, find a Boy Scout (Scouting) Troop near you that will give you some basic training. Firebuilding has become a lost art but like painting, you can learn and practice. Semper Paratus Check 6 Burn