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When surviving in a jungle environment, the ability to make a fire can prove to be the difference between life and death in most cases.
A good fire can be used for numerous things such as heat, cooking, signaling for help and keeping animals away.
"The ability to produce heat is important because most jungles have treacherous terrain that can be grueling to maneuver through," said Cpl. Derek Percival, chief instructor for the Jungle Warfare Training Center, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force. "Almost all movement will cause you to sweat, but when the temperature drops and without heat to warm you up and dry you off, the moisture on your skin could cause hypothermia."
There are several ways to make a fire, but the one taught at JWTC is known as a bird's nest fire.
"A bird's nest fire uses tinder, which can be an actual bird's nest or maybe even tree bark or paper, a flint striker and a sharp object," he said. "With just a few twigs and a lot of good firewood, you can have a nice-sized fire burning in no time.
Ensuring the flame is hot enough to burn the actual firewood is vital to producing a good fire.
"You have to build up the fire," said Percival. "First you start with the tinder to actually light the fire. Once you have a flame then you begin to add twigs and things from nature to establish your fire. After you get your fire established you add bigger logs and brush as your fuel."
Dry firewood is preferred to ensure the fire burns well.
"Try to avoid using things that have been lying on the ground because they are most likely wet," said Percival.
"Standing dead-fall is the best because it's normally dry and very flammable."
Percival said the smaller the fire, the harder it is to keep lit.
"Smaller fires are high maintenance because of the way the fuel burns," he said. "Bigger firewood smolders and turns into coals that help keep the fire going and increases the temperature of the fire, but small twigs turn to ash that can suffocate your fire."
Safety is an important part of a successful fire according to Cpl. Josh Hunter, a reconnaissance Marine with 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion, 3rd MarDiv, III MEF.
"I clear a good base to make sure I don't light anything else around the fire," said Hunter.
Percival said knowing how to start a flame is a valuable skill all Marines should know.
"Never go into the woods without a way to start a fire," he said. "Not only are they important to survival, but they are also fun to watch."
Fire can be as dangerous as it is useful when not used safely. Knowing one's limitations and the environment surrounding one's camp site is important when starting a fire. Used safely, a fire can save one's life when it comes to surviving in the wild.
| Date Taken: | 02.05.2010 |
| Date Posted: | 02.05.2010 00:03 |
| Story ID: | 44944 |
| Location: | OKINAWA, JP |
| Web Views: | 243 |
| Downloads: | 230 |
This work, Playing with fire key ingredient to outdoor survival, by Cpl Monty Burton, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
