A fire is started in four stages. It all begins with a spark, of course. Followed by the addition of some tinder. After that comes the kindling and, if you’re lucky, you’ll eventually get to the big fuel log stage, otherwise known as the marshmallow-roasting stage. Modern conveniences such as a ferro rod or a … Read more
Ferrocerium rods are great for two reasons. One, they can create an intensely hot spark regardless of weather conditions and two, their name can stump super intense pre-teens in our country’s most challenging spelling bees. We’ll focus on the former benefit rather than the latter and refer to them as “ferro rods” going forward. You … Read more
There are a million ways to produce a spark. There’s the amazing ease of a quick thumb swipe on a lighter. Or, you can sweat for your spark using one of the age-old friction fire methods. Alternatively, you can use one of my favorite techniques and accidentally let the chain from your trailer hitch unfurl … Read more
Of the three most common friction methods of starting a fire with sticks, fire plow is the simplest, but not necessarily the easiest. In survival situations, I would use this method only under very specific circumstances, otherwise, I would try to construct a bow and make a bow drill fire. The two survival situations in … Read more
In my experience, people can be divided into two categories. There’s the person who tries to prepare everything ahead of time and get the hard work out of the way, and then there’s the procrastinating improviser who saves the work until the end. I’ve got nothing against the latter, but any friend I ever had … Read more
The hand drill method is the ideal fire starting method for those of you who want to rid yourself of your burdensome fingerprints by rubbing your hands raw in an attempt to make a fire. That’s my way of noting that I’m not such a big fan of this method. I can’t imagine a scenario … Read more
I was fascinated by fire when I was a kid. I wasn’t dropping matches in trash cans or anything but I loved the fact that I could harness the power of something as significant as fire simply by rubbing two sticks together. My grandparents could keep me away from lighters, but they couldn’t hide all … Read more
Fire has two sides in the North American wildlands; one side is beneficial when fire is under control and serves land management policy goals. The other side is destructive, when fire rages large and out of control and destroys property and resources and threatens lives. Wildland fire management is tied to forest health. Current U.S. … Read more
Reforestation is the renewal of a forest after a disturbance. This can be through natural processes or as a result of forest management. Contrary to popular belief, deforestation – or long term loss of forest cover – isn’t generally the result of fire or logging but because of land conversion to agriculture and urbanization. In … Read more
The dynamic interaction between vegetation and soil is so strong that it’s unclear which is dominant. Soil helps secure and renew the forest; forests help secure and renew the soil. The forest covers and protects the soil from extreme heat and cold while slowing the natural forces of erosion like water, wind, and gravity. Soil sustains … Read more
