fire:firecraft

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fire:firecraft [2025/12/08 15:34] – Dave Darbyfire:firecraft [2026/03/26 18:33] (current) – external edit 127.0.0.1
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-# Firecraft+This topic is part of [[gt:bushcraft|Bushcraft & Nature]]. 
 +====== Firecraft ======
  
  
-![Firecraft](https://www.lowimpact.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/firecraft.jpg)+![Firecraft](wiki:firecraft.jpg)
  
 --- ---
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-## What is firecraft?+===== What is firecraft? =====
  
 'Firecraft' is about starting and managing fire, usually in a bushcraft setting, but sometimes in a domestic or camping situation. To start a fire requires fuel, oxygen and ignition, and the more natural fire-starting procedures usually progress from a tiny spark to an ember to a flame in very fine, dry material (tinder), to small, thin pieces of wood (kindling) and then to firewood. 'Firecraft' is about starting and managing fire, usually in a bushcraft setting, but sometimes in a domestic or camping situation. To start a fire requires fuel, oxygen and ignition, and the more natural fire-starting procedures usually progress from a tiny spark to an ember to a flame in very fine, dry material (tinder), to small, thin pieces of wood (kindling) and then to firewood.
  
-### Methods+==== Methods ====
  
 Here are the main ways to start a fire - with the more natural methods first: Here are the main ways to start a fire - with the more natural methods first:
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 <caption> <caption>
-Using a bow drill.+_Using a bow drill._
  
 </caption> </caption>
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 </WRAP> </WRAP>
  
-### History+==== History ====
  
 Very early humans would have collected embers from fires that had started naturally - forest fires, lightning strikes and even volcanic activity. Archaeological evidence puts the first use of fire between 200,000 and 400,000 years ago - a time that corresponds to a change in human physique consistent with food being cooked. Food was made more easily digestible and nutrients more easily available by cooking, resulting in smaller stomachs and jaws, and greater energy per unit of food consumed. Very early humans would have collected embers from fires that had started naturally - forest fires, lightning strikes and even volcanic activity. Archaeological evidence puts the first use of fire between 200,000 and 400,000 years ago - a time that corresponds to a change in human physique consistent with food being cooked. Food was made more easily digestible and nutrients more easily available by cooking, resulting in smaller stomachs and jaws, and greater energy per unit of food consumed.
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 <caption> <caption>
-Sitting around a fire has been a relaxing, comforting and community-building activity for many millennia.+_Sitting around a fire has been a relaxing, comforting and community-building activity for many millennia._
  
 </caption> </caption>
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-## What are the benefits of firecraft?+===== What are the benefits of firecraft? =====
  
-### Environmental+==== Environmental ====
  
 From an environmental perspective, the more natural the method the better. For example, strikers, fire pistons or lenses don't need fossil fuels or phosphorus, which require the highly-destructive oil and chemical industries, and friction methods don't require the mining, factories and roads required to manufacture anything at all. Bow-drills / hand-drills can be made from natural materials that are completely biodegradable. From an environmental perspective, the more natural the method the better. For example, strikers, fire pistons or lenses don't need fossil fuels or phosphorus, which require the highly-destructive oil and chemical industries, and friction methods don't require the mining, factories and roads required to manufacture anything at all. Bow-drills / hand-drills can be made from natural materials that are completely biodegradable.
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 </WRAP> </WRAP>
  
-### Personal & social+==== Personal & social ====
  
 Making fire the natural way is satisfying, fun and makes one feel viscerally connected with nature, and with human history. It's usually quite a euphoric moment when someone manages to make fire for the first time. Making fire the natural way is satisfying, fun and makes one feel viscerally connected with nature, and with human history. It's usually quite a euphoric moment when someone manages to make fire for the first time.
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 <caption> <caption>
-Fire striker with a smoking piece of King Alfred's cakes fungus, which makes good tinder.+_Fire striker with a smoking piece of King Alfred's cakes fungus, which makes good tinder._
  
 </caption> </caption>
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-## What can I do?+===== What can I do? =====
  
 The more natural methods of fire-making can be tricky, and success is often linked to confidence and practice. Many trainee fire-starters report that lack of confidence that they're going to succeed in starting a fire is usually a self-fulfilling prophecy. Confidence brings success, and confidence comes from practice. Firecraft is not something you can easily learn from a book - you have to have a go, either by learning from someone with experience, or by attending a course. The more natural methods of fire-making can be tricky, and success is often linked to confidence and practice. Many trainee fire-starters report that lack of confidence that they're going to succeed in starting a fire is usually a self-fulfilling prophecy. Confidence brings success, and confidence comes from practice. Firecraft is not something you can easily learn from a book - you have to have a go, either by learning from someone with experience, or by attending a course.
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 <caption> <caption>
-Using a flint and steel.+_Using a flint and steel._
  
 </caption> </caption>
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 <caption> <caption>
-Dry grass nest about to ignite.+_Dry grass nest about to ignite._
  
 </caption> </caption>
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 <caption> <caption>
-Fire piston.+_Fire piston._
  
 </caption> </caption>
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-## In the UK+===== In the UK =====
  
 There aren't any regulations covering making a fire outdoors in the UK, apart from the requirement to have the landowner's permission in England and Wales. In Scotland, you're allowed to make a campfire anywhere in the wild - probably to do with the fact that Scotland is so wet that a wildfire is extremely unlikely. There aren't any regulations covering making a fire outdoors in the UK, apart from the requirement to have the landowner's permission in England and Wales. In Scotland, you're allowed to make a campfire anywhere in the wild - probably to do with the fact that Scotland is so wet that a wildfire is extremely unlikely.
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-## Further resources+===== Forum ===== 
 + 
 +This topic belongs to the section [[gt:bushcraft|Bushcraft & Nature]]. You can ask questions or add information on the corresponding [Forum section](https://forum.growingthecommons.org/t/bushcraft). 
 + 
 +===== Further resources =====
  
 - [9 ways to start a fire without matches](https://www.artofmanliness.com/skills/outdoor-survival/9-ways-to-start-a-fire-without-matches/) - [9 ways to start a fire without matches](https://www.artofmanliness.com/skills/outdoor-survival/9-ways-to-start-a-fire-without-matches/)
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-## Specialists+ 
 +===== Related topics ===== 
 + 
 +- [Bushcraft](bush:bushcraft) 
 +- [Earth ovens](eaov:earth_ovens) 
 +- [Rocket stoves](rock:rocket_stoves) 
 +- [Wood stoves](wdst:wood_stoves) 
 + 
 + 
 +===== Specialist curators of this topic =====
  
  
  • fire/firecraft.1765208082.txt.gz
  • Last modified: 2025/12/08 15:34
  • by Dave Darby