Scout Skills

Troop 60 > Resources > Scout Skills > Fire Starting
Troop 60 > Resources > Scout Skills > Wilderness Survival Priorities > Fire Starting

Fire Starting

Fire Starting is a vital wilderness skill and a challenging one to master. Scouts venturing out into the Pacific Northwest MUST have solid Fire Starting Skills.

Subpages

Ferrorod with Striker

Firem'n Chip

All Scouts will be given the opportunity to complete Firem'n Chip Training

We use this guide developed by ScoutMaster Dave:

nwscouter.com/T60/FiremanChit.pdf

Gear

Fire Starting gear is mandatory on all outdoor outings

2 methods of starting a fire
2 Fire Tinders

Strom Matches

Fire Starters

A Scout should have 2 methods of Fire Starting with them on all Outings.

Recommended Fire Starters

Modified Bic Lighter
- Remove Child-Safety
- Wrap Duct Tape around lighter for tinder
- Use No 36 Bank Live to on gas lever to prevent premature fuel loss
- Loop useful for necklace or carabiner
- See Lighter Skills page for more information
Ferrorod
- Add tinder rope or other colorful string so it is easier to find on ground
- See our Ferrorod Skills page for more information

Alternate Fire Starters

Storm Matches
Storm Lighter
Doan Magnesium bar
- Note - these are difficult for most Scouts to use
Strike anywhere matches in waterproof container
- These MUST be kept dry

Mini Bic with No 36 Bank Line, Duct Tape and Child Safety removed (shown)

Bow Drill used for Primitive Fire Starting

Advanced-User Fire Starters

Primative and Advanced Fire Starting techniques are great skills to learn and master, but these should NOT be your primary method of fire starting when selecting gear to pack.

Advanced-User Fire Starters

Friction fire set
- Bow-Drill Set
- Bamboo Set
- See our Friction Fire Page for more information
Knife and string for friction fires
Flint and Steel
- Dedicated high carbon steel striker or high carbon knife
- Flint (acceptable rocks can be found and prepped)
- Char Tin
- See our Flint and Steel Page for more information
Magnifying glass

Tin used to Char Fuel

Fire Tinder

Starting a fire is one thing, getting the fire going is something completely different. In addition to your 2 Fire Starters, you will need tinder or fire-extenders to keep your flame alive as you get your fire going.

Standard Tinder

Biomass Fire Starter Cubes
Chemical Fire Starter Cubes
- Wet Fire
- Fuel Tabs
Fatwood

Multi use Tinder Box with Fatwood

Advanced Tinder

Waxed rope
Magnesium
Duct Tape
Knife to make feathers and fuzz
"Ranger Bands" - made from bike innertube

Doan Magensium Bar

Prep Work

The biggest reason for failing to get a fire going it skimping on the prep-work. Starting a fire requires a LOT of prep-work.

Area Selection

Select an area that is ideally:
- Not under tree branches
- Not on wet ground
- Not on organic soil that will catch on fire
- Not near an easily ignitable fuel such as grass, dry bruch, pine needles, etc.

Gather and Prep Wood

2 large handfuls of fine fuel
- Whispies (pencil lead sided twigs)
- Dry pine needles
- Fine wood shavings
- Dry grass with roots removed
Arms full of kindling
- Pencil to Finger Sized sticks or split wood
Fuel staked up to your knee
- Wrist sized or smaller sticks or split wood

If it is wet out, you should gather 4 times the amount listed above. If possible, select dead, dry wood that isn't touching the ground. Split wood when possible to expose dry inner wood.

Fire Lays

There are many different types of fire lays and they are fun to play and experiment with. The key is to keep your tinder dry by keeping it off the wet ground. Do this by creating a dry surface of split wood.

Spitting wood exposes its dry insides and to create a flat platform to work on.

Build your fire over your dry platform to keep everything warm and dry as you get your first started.

Use a piece of wood to lean kindling on. This creates a space for your tinder and allows for good airflow under your fire as you get it started.

A dry platform allows you to build a fire anywhere, even on snow, mud or water

Fire Size

Fire size depends on intended use.

Smaller fires are safer, reduce fuel use and minimize footprint in the backcountry
- Use a smaller fire when fuel is scarce or if NOT in a survival situation
Large fires are less likely to blow out and easier to maintain if a fire is needed for survival reasons
- Larger fires obviously need more fuel
- Of course - keep in at a safe size for local conditions

Fire Safety

Have enough water on hand to put out fire as well as secondary fire (the one you didn't plan for)
All fires need to be drenched when you are done with them
You MUST perform a COLD OUT test to ensure the fire is no longer a threat