Wilderness Survival: Fire

How do I build and start the kind of fire I need?

Have you ever built a fire by yourself?

Teepee

Log Cabin

Star

Pyramid

Once you've attempted to build each type of fire, choose your favorite below!

This quiz is not for the beginner, but it will teach you new things!

Fire is important in a survival situation to...

• keep you warm.
• cook food.
• purify water.
• scare animals.
• signal for rescue.

Why else might fire be useful in a survival situation?

Source http://www.wilderness-survival.net/chp7.php

     Click on the image to play the game. How many of the ten challenges can you            successfully complete?

      Click on this link to take you to Bear Grylls and his campfire puzzle.

Animation from http://www.free-animations.co.uk/

Fire safety tips from http://www.smokeybear.com/campfire-safety.asp

Photos by Vickie Horman

Choose your spot

• 15 feet from brush, shrubs, & tents
• Watch for low-hanging branches
• Build on flat rock, bare ground, or in shallow pit

Maintain your fire

• Keep size manageable
• Don't cut branches from live trees
• Don't leave fire unattended

Extinguish your fire

• Pour water on fire/embers until hissing stops completely
• Use dirt if you don't have enough water
• Stir ashes and embers with shovel
• NEVER, NEVER bury your embers or ash!!!

Additional terms you may use when researching fire:

• firecraft
• signal fire
• campfires
• tinder
• kindling

Vickie Horman

vickiehorman@tomah.k12.wi.us