Lighters, matches, kerosene? We don’t need any of these. Below, we have the privilege of seeing an Aboriginal bushman start a fire with little more than dried grass, a yarrow stick, and a reed. It’s a beautiful thing. But this technique may just be anyone’s last resort if the need arises. Since the dawn of man, fire has been an essential component to our survival. Whether it’s something as simple as keeping warm or using it to treat water, being able to start a fire with just the tools around you is a valuable skill indeed. But it doesn’t need to be something regarded as pointless in a world of convenient fire starting kits and flammable compounds. A self-made fire from scratch is arguably one of the best survival skills to maintain no matter where you venture.
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Sticks and Stones Can Save Your Bones
What do this Aboriginal bushman and United States Marines have in common? They both use the same basic technique for getting a fire going. It’s called the “Bow and Drill” method and it can be done a number of ways but it involves the same basic concept: the friction of wood against wood to create a spark. From those few tiny sparks, small pieces of dried grass or detritus can be used to nurture the first flames.
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This bushman gets a fire started in less than two minutes. That skill set is something taught to military personnel who go through the survival training portion of the Mountain Warfare Course in Bridgeport, California. Marines and soldiers come here to learn how the basics of constructing shelter, building a fire, and harvesting meat can be pivotal to living another day. If you’re interested in learning more about how United States Marines train to thrive in the rigors of the wilderness.
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The Importance of Fire
As illustrated in the Marine Corps’ Mountain Warfare Training Center, a basic fire can be used for the following survival techniques:
• Signaling
Perhaps one of the most important things to do if lost in the woods is to know how to set up a fire to signal help. When lost out in the expanse of the deep woods or mountainous and rocky terrain, a small signal fire which places an emphasis on smoke generation rather than heat can be the ideal way to alert others to your presence. And when elements such as hypothermia, dehydration, and exposure can set up in a matter of hours – not days – time is certainly of the essence.
• Warmth
The conservation of energy is an imperative feature of survival. Every calorie burned is a calorie that either needs to be replaced with food or, less ideally, warmth. When temperatures fall below body temperature (98.6°F, 37°C), your body initially relies upon complex carbs still in the system to derive the heat needed to keep above hypothermia. When those are gone, the body relies upon fat stores and finally upon muscle and soft tissues. It’s a fight to the finish and the more drastic and dipping the temperature, the more calories need to be derived from food and external warmth. A small fire can help reduce the number of calories you need to consume by providing you with thermal energy. And it’s not just our biology – scientific studies have explored the link between campfires and relaxation.
• Water Treatment
Raw water from streams and rivers may contain a number of contaminates, parasites, and diseases which can exacerbate the odds against you. Bad news, though – without regular replenishment of your bodily fluids, your blood volume decreases and your ability to fight off heat strain is greatly reduced. Even being able to get water to a rolling boil for 5-10 minutes severely increases your chances of staying free from such nasty parasites as Giardia – a parasite found in many untreated water supplies.
• Drying Wet Clothes
When you’re out in cooler temperatures, wet clothing can quickly sap out what body heat you’ve managed to retain. It acts like a massive heat sink, forcing your body to work double time to stay warm. While the last thing anyone wants to do in a cold environment is disrobe and try to dry his or her clothing, it’s almost always essential. Sleeping in cold or damp clothing can increase your chances of frostbite and hypothermia. This is why it’s important to get a small, warm fire started and let those socks dry out completely. Plus, the added warmth putting those articles back on will more than make up for the temporary discomfort.
Practice Makes Perfect
Ultimately, in order to use this or any other fire starting technique to any good effect – practice is absolutely necessary. Simply practicing this technique in a controlled environment over and over again until you gain proficiency drastically increases your chances of being able to use it when you need it the most. Fire is one of the most important tools we have and being able to make it on short notice with basic materials can make all the difference in the world.
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