The Importance of Fire

Fires are useful for many reasons. A fire will keep you warm and dry, will cook/preserve your food as well as purify water. Also, fires are important signaling tools.

Selecting / Preparing a site for a fire

The following will determine where and how you build your fire:

• - The terrain and climate in which you are forced to survive
• - Tools, materials, and their availability.
• - The amount of time you have
• - The reason(s) behind why you need a fire.

You will need to find a dry spot that is protected from the wind and is in a reasonable location relative to your shelter. Another helpful hint is to find a place that will reflect the heat in a desired direction. Lastly, be sure that you are surrounded by an ample supply of wood or other fire-building materials.

If you are surviving in a wooded area, clear a spot on the ground and scrape the surface of the ground to clear out a spot about 3 feet in diameter to reduce the chance of the fire spreading. if you have time, make a fireplace wall using logs or rocks. This will help to reflect heat in a desired direction. It will also reduce flying sparks and cut down on the amount of wind blowing directly on the fire. Just remember you will need some open air to keep the fire going. NOTE **Do NOT use wet or porous rocks. They can explode when heated. **