Emergency Preparedness: Start a Fire without Matches

I remember spending a couple of frustrating hours at girl's camp trying to light a fire with flint and steel and wet tinder (it was a rainy week) to complete my certification. Afterwards, my was face covered in soot and my eyes watered from the smoke, but I was pleased that I had accomplished my goal. Hopefully, you'll never have to start a fire without matches but just in case of a real emergency, here are a few tried and true methods that will provide a warm fire if you're ever in need of one.

BEFORE YOU EVEN START A FIRE, YOU MUST HAVE TINDER READY

Get a variety of tinder--wood shavings, dried grass, lint and small twigs. No matter what method you choose for making a fire, you will always need to start with tinder. Ball the tinder up loosely to allow plenty of air flow and shape it into a bird's nest. Have plenty of bigger sticks to add once the fire starts.

USING SPARKS

Use a little magnesium and flint block: Scrape a pile of magnesium shavings on your tinder and strike a spark off the flint. The magnesium will ignite and hopefully start flame in your tinder. Once it begins to smoke, hold the tinder in your hands to allow oxygen in through the bottom and blow gently from underneath.

USING SOLAR ENERGY

Use a magnifying glass on a sunny day Angle the magnifying glass in the sun over the tinder so that the focal point is directly on the pile. Once it begins to smoke, you can encourage the flame by blowing gently on the tinder from the bottom. Broken glass, bottles or eyeglasses can also work if their focal point is bright enough.

USING CHEMICAL ENERGY

Use a 6 volt battery and steel wool Tear the wool into a loose mass and touch it to both charges on the battery. Doing so will connect the circuit, cause a spark and cause the steel wool to glow. Once it's hot enough, you can place it on the tinder until it catches.

USING BULLETS

Remove a bullet from its cartridge and pour half the powder on your tinder. Put the half-empty cartridge back in the gun (without a bullet) and fire it at the tinder. Be certain that your tinder is at the base of a tree or in an enclosed area because the gunfire will likely blow the tinder away and might put out the same flame it creates.

USING FRICTION

Place the point of a straight stick into a groove in a piece of bark or flat wood. Ideally, both of these pieces contain no sap or moisture. Rub the stick vigorously between your hands, while the point creates friction against the other piece of wood. Eventually the wood will heat until it creates a small ember which you can drop into the tinder nest.

Home Generator Information

You should first consider those things that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has suggested. Storage of food, water and financial reserves are likely important to consider BEFORE getting an emergency home generator. However, if you need to have electric service to heat your house, or perhaps to run an oxygen machine, consider a generator set-up.

A Home Generator:

• Is Expensive
• Requires a fair amount of maintenance
• Might be dangerous if not used properly
• Can be very noisy
• Can be a real blessing at times (during long power outages can provide well water, heat, lights and the microwave oven, TV and even the Internet)

Do Not Buy a Generator if:

• You have not stored food and water for all of your family members.
• You don't have at least $1000.00 or more to spend.
• You don't have a place to run it outside, or if you don't want to do the maintenance.

I Bought a Generator Because:

• We seem to lose power frequently.
• We have no neighbors to complain; the noise only bothers us. (I did install a quieter muffler)
• I could install it myself with the transfer panel.
• We felt we had the money for it; I do the maintenance myself.

If I Had to Do it Again, I would:

• Buy a better generator with a quieter muffler, maybe better voltage regulation.
• Run wiring from the outside of the house so the cable did not have to go under the garage door.

Different Types of Generators are:

• Small portable units: Typical use for camping--may be too small for home emergency use.
• Low cost units (with wheels): Light duty, 4000 to 7500 watts
• Heavy duty units (with or without wheels): More expensive, greater life.
• Permanently installed automatic operation units: Expensive, outside location.

Where would you buy a generator and the transfer switch panel?

• Home Depot or Lowe's
• Lots of other places (see web links)

A Generator Runs on:

• Gasoline: Expensive
• Propane: Nice if you have that available anyway
• Heating oil/diesel: Same as above

Types of Home Generators:

• Portable 5000 VA with wheels--use outside of the house
• Portable small units--use outside for camping
• Permanently installed--automatic operation 8000 VA or larger--normally located outside your house.

How to use a generator:

• Install a generator transfer switch panel connected to your house electrical circuit breaker panel.
• OR just plug in necessary equipment with extension cords.
• DO NOT back feed the generator. This is dangerous to you and possibly someone working on the power lines.

Here are some generator websites and how to use them:

• NE MARA: Church related amateur radio website, thanks to Dave Marling in Nova Scotia http://ne.mara.net/generator/gen.pdf
• POPULAR MECHANICS ARTICLE http://www.popularmechanics.com/how_to_central/home_clinic/1275631.html?page=1
• CENTRAL MAINE DIESEL SITE http://01856bc.netolhost.com/demo_units11.asp?page=1
• GENERATORJOE SITE is okay--lots of stuff there http://generatorjoe.net/store.asp
• HONDA GENERATORS http://hondapowerequipment.com/gen.asp
• KOHLER http://kohlerpowersystems.com/residential.html
• HOME DEPOT http://www.homedepot.com/
• GEN TRAN http://www.gen-tran.com/

Source: Jeff Porter, 28 April 2007

Emergency Heat Sources

Keeping warm is essential for survival. Loss of body heat, Hypothermia, is very dangerous and can lead to a loss of body parts and even death. Wet conditions quickly increase the loss of body heat. When traditional heat sources are not available, below are a few ideas to help you keep warm.

• Dry (preferably wool) clothing. If you get wet from rain, snow or sweat, change into clothing that is dry. Wet clothing loses its insulation value and extracts body heat 240 times faster than dry clothing. Wool clothing and blankets are preferred. Cotton clothing, particularly denim, retains water. Wool clothing is insulating, water resistant and keeps your body warm even if it is wet.
• Hats, mittens (warmer than gloves). Covering your head is vital as you can lose up to 80% of your body heat through your head. A knitted wool stocking hat is good.
• Insulated boots or shoes. Feet can be kept warm by wearing wool socks and wearing two pair if your shoes are large enough. A towel could also be wrapped over shoes and duct-taped on.
• Layered clothing. Several thin layers of loose-fitting clothing retain body heat and can be removed easily if body starts to perspire and/or you are chilling. Water and wind resistant outer clothing with a hood. Also, scarf or towel to cover your mouth to keep cold air from your lungs.
• Sleeping bags. Two or more people huddled together inside two sleeping bags zipped together will be warmer than each in separate sleeping bags. A smaller bag can also be placed inside a larger one.
• Car heater. If trapped in your car during a snowstorm, run heater 10 minutes every hour. Make sure the exhaust pipe is not blocked by snow and open one window a crack to allow ventilation.
• Mylar blankets or emergency bags. Good in wind or rain. Put a wool blanket between you and the Mylar blanket, if possible.
• Survival candles, safety heat(in can), hand warmers.
• Rice or bean filled packs (or socks filled with rice/beans & tied) that have been heated perhaps in a can in a fir or coals. They will maintain heat for a period of time. Rocks or bricks can also be heated thoroughly, then carefully wrapped in towels or newspapers.
• Thermal undergarments.
• Insulated Clothing: Open cell foam rubber (1/2"), Leaves, newspaper, straw, etc. (Stuffed between 2 layers of clothing) Tie your shoe laces around the cuffs of your pants to hold material in. If you were trapped in a car during a snowstorm, use stuffing from the seat cushions.
• Plastic garbage bag. Can be worn as a rain jacket or can insulate body if stuffed with dry leaves or grass.

HEATING INDOOR AND OUTDOOR AREAS

You will need matches (waterproof or metal,) steel wool and batteries or lighters to start a fire.

Indoors:

• Wood or coal for use in fireplace or wood burning stove
• One room: have all family members stay in one room closing off other rooms) to conserve heat source and to provide body warmth for each other.

Outdoors:

• Fire pits
• Dig a hole (about 2 feet X 4 feet) put some rocks in and build a fire in it. When it's out cover the hole with dirt. The area will stay warm for quite some time. You can put your sleeping bag over the area.
• Snow cave. Use a shovel or empty large can, etc, to build. Make it large enough to lie down in and elevate the sleeping area above the floor area for extra warmth. Poke air holes in ceiling (larger ones if building a fire or lighting a stove) and close off entrance with snow, back pack, etc. Put insulation under your sleeping bag such as leaves, grass, straw, newspaper, etc. and cover with plastic. Wear a wool cap to bed.
• Shelter. Use a tarp, plastic sheet, or space blanket to build a lean-to by draping over a low-hanging branch or tall stick and anchoring with rocks or logs.
• Cave, rock cove or rock wall. Find a natural shelter protected from the wind and insulate ground with leaves and branches. Building a fire will create an oven effect as it reflects off the rock faces.

The Candle Can--heat, light & cook stove

Items needed to assemble The Candle Can:

1. One roll of one-ply toilet paper
2. One 16 oz. bottle of rubbing alchohol
3. One box matches
4. One penny
5. One quart size paint can with lid.
6. Glue & scotch tape

Assembly Instructions:

1. Take carboard out of center of toilet paper, (optional)
2. Put the roll of toilet paper in the can. (It's a tight squeeze.)
3. Slowly pour the alcohol over the toilet paper.
4. Put the lid on the can and poind gently with a hammer to seal tight.
5. Glue/tape the box of matches on top of the can (with penny glued on top of matches.)
6. Scotch tape the paper instructions around the can.

To use:

Remove lid with penny and light. This stove will burn approximaetly 8 hours. Paper will not burn. When done, replace lid to extinguish flame. May be reused. Add more alcohol as needed to keep it ready for future use.

Great for snowmobilies, winter camps, trunk of car, or just as a storage item. Think of it as heat, light and cookstove. (To use as cookstove, couple with an empty #10 can that has plenty of large air holes punched around the sides of the can.)

Safety Warning:

The outside of the can will get hot after about 30 minutes of burning. The bottom of the can will not get hot until alcohol has burned down.

Basic Fuels and Storage

Along with food that you store, you should also be prepared with a fuel source to cook your food. Many sources are available but it is CRITICAL that you are educated in the general safe guidelines for indoor and outdoor cooking which are not included in this information. Also, you should find out the laws pertaining to the legal limits of the types of fuel you may store in your particular area.

WOOD

Indoor Cooking Options:

• Wood Burning Stove (one pot cooking)
• Open Fireplace (one pot cooking)
• Cookstove (one pot cooking and baking)

Outdoor Cooking Options:

• Open fires (one pot cooking)
• Cooking with coals (Dutch oven & Pit cooking)

Shelf Life:

• If covered & kept dry, wood will store for a very long time.

Planning for Long Term Use/Storage:

• Large covered storage space or tarp required to keep dry.
• Store hardwood (burns longer)
• Good for cooking & heating.
• If you live in wooded area, restocking your wood supply is an option to storing large amounts.

COAL

Indoor Cooking Options:

• Coal burning stove (one pot cooking) Warning: Do not burn coal in a wood burning stove. The heat from the coal will get too hot & crack the stove.

Outdoor Cooking Options:

• None

Shelf Life:

• Anthracite: Indefinite
• Bituminous: Several Years if kept dry

Planning for Long Term Use/Storage:

• Large covered storage space or tarp required to keep dry.
• Large amount required.
• Good for cooking and heating.
  

PROPANE

Indoor Cooking Options:

• Imitation wood stove (one pot cooking)
• Converted Gas Range (one pot cooking & baking)

Outdoor Cooking Options:

• Propane fueled generator to use with home appliances
• Gas barbecues (one pot cooking & baking)
• Portable camp stove, table top or free standing (one pot cooking)

Shelf Life:

• Indefinite

Planning for Long Term Use/Storage:

• EXPLOSIVE--Cylinders are designed to leak so it is imperative that any propane is not stored near any open flame such as in a furnace room, near water heater or garage.
• There are legal limits on amounts you may store.
• Cylinders must always be stored outside (in shade if possible).
• Good for cooking.
• Possible heating source.

CHARCOAL

Indoor Cooking Options:

• NEVER USE CHARCOAL INDOORS OR IN AN ENCLOSED AREA SUCH AS TENT OR R.V.

Outdoor Cooking Options:

• Dutch Oven (one pot cooking & baking)
• Charcoal Stove made from #10 tin can
• Apple Box Oven (baking)

Shelf Life:

• Indefinite if kept dry.
• Can store in large black garbage cans with lids.

Planning for Long Term Use/Storage:

• Large amount required but easy to calculate amount of charcoal needed to cook/bake daily for years supply.
• Can store in small area.
• Outdoor cooking source ONLY.

GASOLINE

Indoor Cooking Options:

• NEVER

Outdoor Cooking Options:

• Generator - gas fueled. Use for home appliances.

Shelf Life:

• 1 year in cool place/sealed container

Planning for Long Term Use/Storage:

• Legal limits on amounts to store.
• Never store indoors.
• Generators use LARGE amounts.

KEROSENE

Indoor Cooking Options:

• Cooker/Heater (one pot cooking)

Outdoor Cooking Options:

• None

Shelf Life:

• Up to 3 years if stored out of sunlight

Planning for Long Term Use/Storage:

• Legal limits on amounts to store.
• Cooking & heating possibilities
• Store in garage/shed if allowed.