Fire
Entrance Question
• List 5 uses of FIRE
• List and describe 3 different types of fires.
The three components of fire
• Fuel
• Heat
• Oxygen
Fuel
• Wood provides the fuel in campfires.
The key is to have the correct size fuel for
the amount of heat available. (You can’t
light a 4 inch round stick of wood with a
match.)
Heat
• Heat ignites the fuel and must be
balanced with it. Large fuel will not
ignite until the heat of the fire rises to a
suitable temperature to thoroughly heat
the wood. There is usually water vapor
close to the ground. The fire should be
ignited a few inches above ground level.
Oxygen
• There must be room for oxygen.
Allow for ample air circulation
and arrange the fuel so that
oxygen can get to the fire.
Materials in Fire construction
• Tinder
• Kindling
• Fuel
Tinder
• Fine, flammable material which will ignite
from the heat of a match.
• Birch bark (collected from the ground), pine
pitch or spruce pitch, and fine twigs.
• If the group must depend on fires it is
important to have a plastic bag of these
materials for a rainy day
Kindling
• Small diameter branches (3/4” or less) or split
wood which will ignite from the tinder
• Softwood such as pine, spruce and cedar are
very suitable for kindling.
Fuel
• Firewood which provides coals and uniform
heat for cooking.
• Hardwoods such as maple, birch, hickory and
apple do an admirable job of providing good
coals for cooking.
• Only collect wood that is already down.
Collect enough to maintain your fire. Collect
wood of different sizes.
Lighting the Fire
• Don’t be afraid to use paper if it’s available.
• Remember that heat rises, so when striking a
match, try to hold the lit end higher than the rest
of the match.
• Light the fire upwind so the heat generated will be
blown towards the fire and not away from it.
• Homemade or commercial fire starters made from
paraffin and paper can be carried for lighting fires
in moist or emergency conditions.
Location of a fire
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Sheltered from the wind
Away from trees and roots
Away from overhanging trees
Surrounded with rocks/dig a hole
Clear leaves and twigs
Proximity of your shelter
Proximity to water source
Uses for Fire
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Warmth
Feel protected (Comfort)
Cooking
Purify water
Dry clothing
Smoke signals
Repel insects
Torches
Laying a Fire
• Plan where you will light it – leave an opening
to reach the tinder
• Light the upwind side so the wind blows the
flame into the fuel
• Leave air space between pieces of wood
• Build UP not OUT
Teepee Fire
• Easy to light
• Fast Flame
• Used for boiling H2O
•
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lp7IWWgkxN4
Log Cabin fire
• Popular for beginners
• Makes good coals
• Lighting can be a
challenge
•
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mhPvvpFCVtg
Lean-To Fire
• Keeps air space open
• Light wind really helps
when starting
•
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dHRCwaxjb24
Council Fire
• Burns hot and bright for
long period of time
• Takes bigger logs
• Use for entertaining
large crowds
Hunters Fire
• Good for cooking
• V Shape
• Not used for
entertaining or warmth
•
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7wSAvHBwDoo
Newspaper Article
1.
2.
3.
4.
Find a fire related picture
Create a title for your article
Write a newspaper article describing your photo
Be sure to answer the following
Who
What
When
Where
Why
Make sure you provide lots of details, you may also include
quotes. Remember to GRAB your readers attention!
Rubric
1
2
3
Photo
Not included
Included
Title
Not included
Included but
doest grab the
readers
attention
Included and
grabs readers
attention
Who
Not included
Minimal info
Acceptable info
What
Not included
Minimal info
Acceptable info
Where
Not included
Minimal info
Acceptable info
When
Not included
Minimal info
Acceptable info
Why
Not included
Minimal info
Acceptable info
Total value 20
4