Fire
“There’s no smoke without fire…. except when you try to light one in the jungle”
Getting a fire going in the jungle can be extremely frustrating (when it doesn’t work) and equally satisfying (when it does). Because of the rain and damp, the astonishing speed at which things rot and the high levels of humidity, getting a fire going can be a little tricky. But that’s not to say it is isn’t possible and, once your fire is established, the jungle becomes a much more comfortable place to be in – the mozzis disappear (or are at least banished to the perimeter of the smoke-zone), you can boil water, cook, signal for help and, perhaps most importantly, a fire will lift your spirits (if things have all gone wrong) and will keep you warm if you’re forced to spend an unplanned night in the jungle.
In the posts here (check the categories list on the right hand side) I’ll concentrate on fire-lighting for the jungle and won’t go over well-trodden ground already covered in many bushcraft publications/sites etc.
We’ll start with the very basics: i.e. how to to get a fire going using a lighter and inner tube – before moving on to the wider subject of how to start a fire without lighter or matches.
Once you get your first fire going you can use that fire to make subsequent fire lighting much easier (by preparing charcloth, carrying fire, making firelighters etc) and I’ll cover these areas too.
Finally I’ll look at some jungle fire-lighting techniques that are fun and interesting to know (but aren’t necessarily the best ones to rely on).
I used some of our techniques in my video. Thank You.
http://youtu.be/47nTwNZzl2Y
HI David,
Sorry for slow reply but things have been hectic here with the arrival of seven puppies….anyway many thanks for the comment and I took a look at your video (well done)…..thanks very much for the mention – it really wasn’t necessary but was much appreciated. Looking forward to watching more of your videos.
Cheers!
Paul
I just saw your video on natural cordage for the jungle & wanted to pass on a trick for keeping the rope from breaking. What you do is to drill with the bow at a slant (it’s still moving side-to-side, but it’s just slanted at an angle as it moves side-to-side). This keeps the cord from fraying or melting (in the case of nylon- such as paracord shoelaces). Another trick is to make the spindle closer to an octagon than a smooth circle so those corners bite into the string more & it doesn’t slip back & forth.
Also, I wanted to mention a site to you: Paleoplanet. You might like it a lot & I don’t think they have much on the jungle so far, so it might be a mutually beneficial situation. I just recently posted a thread asking about primitive machete substitutes & was wondering if you knew of any? The general answers were to either use a club to break the vegetation out of the way when you weren’t using game trails or use that Aztec sword.
Hi Alex,
Many thanks for the comment and tips – you are right about slanting the bow to avoid rope-on-rope friction and also I know exactly what you mean about using an octagon shape for the spindle (which is very necessary when using bamboo as the spindle as it is too smooth and too round otherwise!) – both good tips. What I was looking for when I started the search for a jungle natural cordage was one that didn’t require any special treatment – for example, terap fibres make good cordage but need to be treated with care (i.e. using Egyptian wrap etc) – and that would perform nearly as well as synthetic cordage. But, of course, there may a time when rattan just isn’t available and then knowing these techniques for using weaker cordage (such as the tips you give) become very important.
Very interesting question you ask about a substitute for a parang and one that I am still trying to find an answer to. Here there isn’t any flint available and the rocks are mainly granite (which easily crumbles at the edge) so making any sort of blade is difficult. A cutting tool can be made from the edge of split bamboo but it is only really sufficient for skinning and chopping up veg etc as it will quickly blunt. The advice from Paleoplanet is pretty sound and, when I’ve had to go through the jungle without a parang that’s pretty much what I do, however, one thing that people often forget is that it is also possible to make your way through the jungle without cutting but it requires a lot of ducking and weaving!
Anyway, thanks again for the interesting points.
Cheers!
Paul
Why 3 comments in a row? Been watching and LOVING this channel for months now. Ready to comment. As I am writing this my electric ignition lighter failed to light for my cig (got it going 10 tries later). Rubbish. After being a smoker for 20 years I knew better, but bought one of these to test after watching your dunk video. Did not work after 2 seconds under water. Neither did my BIC. Wet lighters simply don’t work. I have always carried a BIC even when I was quit smoking. Encourage everyone to do so. FIRE. Greatest discovery of mankind in your pocket for $1.00. Not a bad deal! Just don’t get lighters wet!
Hi Shane,
Thanks for the comments and, as a smoker myself I think it is true that those afflicted with the nicotine addiction tend to know a lot about lighters! The first time I began taking one of the piezo type lighters started after a trip where the rains simply didn’t stop and I couldn’t get the BIC lighter going as there was nothing to dry the wheel on (all my clothes were soaked). The Piezo will light in the rain and get that ciggie/fire going.
If you’re finding that the lighters aren’t working when wet, there are a few things you can do…firstly, make sure you get a good brand name disposable lighter – I like the Cricket lighters best – as these seem to be made better and work better. With a wheel style lighter you can simply dry the wheel by gently rolling it along your trousers (assuming they are dry) and then it should work after a couple of spins. The Piezos will work, even after dunking, but give them a shake or two first to get rid of most of the water.
I now carry two wheel lighters and one piezo style lighter when on a trip.
Usually the lighters are not submerged in water but rather you are trying to get them to light in heavy rain….in that situation a piezo lighter is great. Try it next time you get heavy rain and compare to the wheel lighter. The problem with a piezo is that if it runs out of gas it’s pretty useless whereas the wheel and flint lighter can still be used to start a fire even without gas.
Anyway, thanks again for the comment and support.
Cheers!
Paul
Hi Paul,
Thanks for the videos and I was quite surprised that you live so close to KL. What is your favorite food here in Malaysia? I am sure there is quite a few.
I have been a scout since I was a little boy and was fortunate enough to pass the tests to obtain the King Scout award (Queen scout in the UK). After 10 years focusing on my studies and work, I think I am ready to give back and return to the scouting community.
Your videos gets my spirits up about the outdoors again and the knowledge that you have shared are invaluable. Simple things like starting a fire and weaving of leaves to make roofs for shelter will stay with me so that I can pass it on to the little cub scouts that I will be guiding in the future.
Keep up the great work Paul,
Cheers,
Muiz -KL-
Hi Muiz,
Many thanks for the comment and great to hear you’re going to work with the scouts/cubs and encourage young people to go into the jungle. The reason I set up this site was along the same lines as I think one way to protect the forest and encourage people to fight for them is to show them what amazing places they can be and try to remove some of the fears that a lot of people have about the camping in the jungle.
Anyway I wish you the very best of luck training the cubs and hope you have a lot of fun as well.
Cheers!
Paul
as a jungle survival instructor id really like to get your take on some things, can you email me when you get a chance please.
Hi Jimmy,
Many thanks for the comment and please feel free to email me your questions (my email address is on the contact page on the website)
Cheers!
Paul
Every video you’ve made has depth and quality – a real inspiration. Especially fond of your fire making techniques – Ive been a loyal fan since 2011!
PS PM me if your interested in Texas Flint – we have tons of that rock. here. Great for your “Flint & steel” kit.
Rich
Hi Rich,
Sorry for this slow reply to your comment but I’ve been too busy for the last few months to update the site. Anyway, many thanks for the kind words and support and good to hear from someone who has been following the site from the start. It is a bit frustrating at the moment as, for one reason or another, I’ve been too tied up with other things to do much in the way of junglecraft (or even fit in camping trips) and I have a few videos I’ve wanted to do for some time that I just can’t find the time to do. Hopefully I’ll get more free time in the future.
Last time I was in the UK I made of point of picking up some large pieces of flint to bring back – so thanks for the offer of some Texas flint but I think the pieces I brought back will probably outlive me! It is amazing what a difference in the ease and quality of spark you get from a really good flint (vs the quartz type stuff I find in the jungle).
So thanks again for the comment and apologies once more for the slow reply,
Cheers!
Paul