Go CampinG australia | 41 40 | Go CampinG australia
W eve all been there before: you come off a long day of
travelling through the bush; be it by car or on foot, and all you
want to do is secure a comfortable seat around a relaxing campfire.
Instead, youre digging for some old newspaper, paper towels or
anything remotely combustible in your gear to get the kindling
crackling.
A fire is arguably the most important aspect of a good bush
camp. It offers physical and psychological warmth, light,
protection, a place to cook food, boil water and a central meeting
place to have a yarn about the days events. However, the problem
tends to be that the more you need it, the less likely Mother
Nature is to give it up. If conditions are windy, damp or cold you
probably want that fire burning as soon as possible. Unfortunately,
in these conditions a roaring campfire can soon become a chore
rather than a quick throw-away task. The trick is in the
firelighters!
Paper, while perfectly sufficient if kindling is abundant and
dry, is not the ideal material to light a fire in the wet. Crushing
the paper is the obvious first step as it reduces the availability
of oxygen and the surface area of paper to extend the burn time
giving the kindling a better chance to ignite. However, more often
than not, in less than ideal conditions all youll be left with is a
pile of paper ash and a steaming pile of twigs.
Firelighters offer an extended burn time to dry out kindling
sufficiently for it to burn, but commercial versions are bulky,
expensive and tend to be a little on the nose once open.
For a very little cost and minimal effort its easy to make your
own lightweight and effective firelighters that will guarantee to
get those stubborn, soggy sticks burning. By pairing these
firelighters with some simple fire preparation therell be little to
stand between you and a welcoming campfire despite dismal
conditions.
bush
craft
Fire PreParation in damP conditionsEven with a set of homemade
firelighters its still a challenge to get a fire established if the
area has received recent substantial rain, so here are a few simple
tips.
Avoid collecting any kindling material that is sitting on the
ground. The moisture in the ground prevents the wood from drying
out and, even if twigs appear dry on the surface, they can still be
sodden on the inside, especially if there has recently been a short
burst of sunlight. If possible, also avoid collecting kindling in
the morning as the wood will be damp if there has been heavy
dew.
Look for dead branches or trees that are suspended in the air as
twigs that are in a near vertical position will shed water more
efficiently than horizontal ones. Also, branches that are
sheltered, be it by a rock formation or larger tree, should prove
to be a good source.
Its best to gather twigs that are no more than a match stick
thick and snap cleanly when bent. A good rule of thumb to determine
if a piece of kindling is suitable is to bend it. If it bends past
ninety degrees without snapping clean through, then its best to
look for dryer fuel.
If the weather looks like its setting in, its worthwhile to
think ahead and take the opportunity to collect some kindling
during the day. Place the kindling out of the rain at the top of
your pack or inside a vehicle, but avoid the temptation to seal it
inside a non-breathable bag as this actually prevents moisture from
evaporating. A small piece of string or an elastic band is handy to
stow a bundle of sticks during the day.
Words: Blake muir
aBout the author
Blake muir has enjoyed camping all his life. his passion for
bushcraft originated from a fascination with the ingenuity of
australias indigenous people and how the bush can provide the means
to survive.
in 2011, he founded Bushcraftoz, an online community for
likeminded people to share their knowledge of bushcraft. the site
has grown to more than 1000 members and receives thousands of
visits each month. Visit www.bushcraftoz.com
42 | Go CampinG australia Go CampinG australia | 43
petroleum Jelly Cotton BallsThese are a favourite among hikers
as they are effective, cheap and lightweight. Take a cotton ball
and smear it through some petroleum jelly making sure to coat all
sides of the cotton ball. Plain cotton makeup removal wipes also
work well and offer longer burn times than cotton balls. Store
these in a ziplock bag to keep them dry and your equipment
clean.
Light directly from a match or lighter. Alternatively, tear them
open to expose the dry cotton inside, which will ignite instantly
from one strike of a firesteel rod and burn for several
minutes.
Fire DustA great use for excess sawdust or wood chips from the
shed is to mix them with kerosene. Slowly add kerosene until it is
totally absorbed but not dripping wet. Sawdust alone will burn
quite fast so including a good mix of small wood chips will give a
more sustained burn time.
A small handful in the fireplace will allow plenty of time for
the kindling to catch alight. Store the fire dust in a ziplock bag
or a small airtight plastic container to keep the smell out of your
kit.
Cardboard CandlesA little more effort to prepare, but these
offer a longer burn time and are also waterproof. Start by
stripping the corrugated centre from a piece of cardboard by
peeling away the smooth surface from either side and cutting it
into strips of your desired size; 3 cm wide by 10 cm long seems to
be ideal. Roll the cardboard strip up and tie it with a piece of
string, leaving a small length for dipping.
Next, melt down some paraffin wax from some cheap candles, such
as tea lights. (A discarded Milo tin or similar is ideal for
melting wax.) Hold the string and dip the cardboard rolls into the
melted wax allowing them to soak in for a minute, then set aside to
dry. When youre finished, allow the remaining wax to harden,
replace the lid and store, the wax can be re-melted
indefinitely.
These firelighters will light from a match or candle and can
withstand a reasonable downpour once the flames are
established.
pine resinIf youve run out of firelighters thankfully Mother
Nature also supplies her own very useful pre-made firelighters in
the form of pine resin. Keep an eye out for pine trees on your
travels. They are easy to identify from a distance as they stand
out from most other Australian flora. Almost all conifers secrete
resin from areas of the tree that have sustained mechanical damage.
The resin seeps from these locations and solidifies over time thus
sealing the wound. Resin has long been a prized natural resource
for humans due to its high content of hydrocarbons, namely
terpenes, from which turpentine is produced.
The hardened resin can be collected from the bark of these trees
and presents as a transparent or waxy white sap. Being very
volatile, the resin will burn vigorously for a long time, up to ten
minutes for a matchbox-sized piece.
Resin will take to flame quickly and soon melt so be sure to
place it down as soon as the flame is established and avoid contact
with the hot liquid resin.
Lighting the FirePlace the tinder or firelighter in the
fireplace and when its lit hold the bundle of kindling horizontally
over the flame at one end.
Keep the bundle together then wait for the flames to establish
and grow up the length of kindling. Once youre happy that the fire
has taken hold, place the bundle down and begin adding more small
sticks.
In very wet conditions it might be necessary to have more
kindling as a backup until an ember base is established.
Be sure to nurse the fire by adding progressively larger wood,
remembering that the wood will need time to dry out before catching
alight.
As the fire builds its wise to stack the next lot of timber
alongside the fire to dry out in advance.
From left to right: Cardboard candles before dipping. A Milo tin
is good for melting wax and storing what you dont use. Pine resin
is collected from pine trees that have had mechanical damage. Fire
dust made from sawdust, woodchips and kerosene. Pine resin burning.
Lighting the cardboard candle.Below left: Lighting a cotton ball
firelighter with a firesteel. (All images courtesy of Blake
Muir)
FURPHYS FOUNDRY SALES PTY LTDDrummond Road, Shepparton VIC 3630
Phone: (03) 5831 2777 Web: www.furphyfoundry.com.au
making homemade FireLighters
toP tiPFire requires fuel, oxygen and heat to exist.
Remove one of these elements and the fire will go out. Remember
this when building a fire. A common mistake is to add too much fuel
too quickly, which will douse a fire.
In wet weather the sensitivity of this is far more acute so pay
attention while the fire is getting started.