Making a Fire with a Flint and Steel
An essential part of any survival kit, it is surprisingly easy to light a fire with a flint and steel and a lot more fun than matches. Even if you don’t need a fire for warmth or cooking, there is something magical about a fire that draws people together.
There are restrictions on making fires in Birmingham, and you need to be sensitive to your neighbour‘s wishes – you don’t want to ruin their washing on the line.
Lighting a Barbeque as the evenings get longer, and a little colder, can be a lovely way to stay outdoors for longer. It’s also something your children will enjoy doing with you.
What to do before you start
- Check the area is suitable – are there overhanging branches? Is the ground wet (if fire on the ground)? Are you at least 5 metres away from any buildings?
- Check your clothing, hair or personal items tied back or away from the fire
- Keep anything flamable away, including fuel until ready to place on the fire
- Check no obstacles near the fire, including seating, and that you have a quick, safe, easy means to step away from the fire
- Check wind direction and consider where smoke may go
- Never leave a fire unattended by a responsible adult
What you need
Flint and steel – costs around £5, widely available online and last forever
Tinder – cotton wool, fluff from the tumble dryer, dry moss, birch bark, tortilla chips or experiment!
Kindling – newspaper, dry twigs or grass
Fuel – charcoal or wood – make sure it’s dry or the fire will be smoky
A basic first aid kit
Metal Bucket of water
Gauntlet or oven glove
What would be useful
- Barbeque kit
- Kitchen implements
- Metal container for your fire lighting kit and tinder
Top safety tip
There are many resources online to find out more about lighting fires, like the Scouts guide. Don’t forget to post us your fire lighting experiences on Active Communitites Going Wild.
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