Red Rock Readiness

The Purpose of Fire

Fire fulfils multiple functions in survival. Fire provides heat, which aids in thermal regulation and homeostasis. Fire provides light and security, especially against predators in the wild. Fire can cook food, which in turn protects us against infections and parasites. Fire, potentially most importantly, can boil and render water safe to drink. Lastly, fire, if kept hot enough for long enough, can even render metals from rocks, creating the opportunity to create tools and improve one's standard of living and survival. A metal axe is much better than a stone axe. Much less work involved.

We recommend making a fire kit. A fire kit should contain at least 3-4 different methods to create fire, since no method of creating fire has a 100% success rate. We recommend a waterproof box of storm matches, a ferrocerium rod, a bic lighter, and at least some strong chordage for making a friction fire setup. A small candle or two is not a bad idea either. Learn to make and use a featherstick.

Methods of Making Fire

The basic methods of making fire are as follows:

Friction fires are simple in theory but require a great deal of energy. They require the proper types of wood to be used, and are a great way to acquire severe blisters on one's hands. Matches or a lighter are susceptible to water. The most reliable method of fire-starting is the ferrocerium rod. When scraped with a sharp edge, the ferrocerium rod sheds sparks that burn at approximately 10,000 degrees, though for a very short period of time. The trouble with a ferro rod is finding kindling fine enough to take a spark.