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How to make fire

Make Fire

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sons of mankind made fire and conquered beasts; tamed their meat for sustenance. if you cannot make fire, you are no son of man, just meat for wolves in the wilder.

start by gathering some dry pine needles. if there are none, you can shave off small pieces of a dry stick.

start by gathering some dry pine needles. if there are none, you can shave off small pieces of a dry stick.

next gather an equal amount of very small sticks. about a handful is good.

next gather an equal amount of very small sticks. about a handful is good.

you want to gather large bunches of progressively larger wood. until you get up to about the thickness of a broadsword blade. or   roughly an inch an a half.

you want to gather large bunches of progressively larger wood. until you get up to about the thickness of a broadsword blade. or roughly an inch an a half.

like this son. see my thickness raise? you do.

like this son. see my thickness raise? you do.

now, assuming you already have a fire pit, take two larger rocks that have flat surfaces and set them about an elk skull apart. or about 12 inches.

now, assuming you already have a fire pit, take two larger rocks that have flat surfaces and set them about an elk skull apart. or about 12 inches.

take your pine needles, or smallest kindling  and make a square out of them by overlapping each segment. leave the center bare as a summer tanned ox hide.

take your pine needles, or smallest kindling and make a square out of them by overlapping each segment. leave the center bare as a summer tanned ox hide.

similarly, overlap your next size twigs one at a time on top of the pine needles, again leaving the center open.

similarly, overlap your next size twigs one at a time on top of the pine needles, again leaving the center open.

slowly, build your mini pyre. leaving the center open will allow oxygen to flow through and will get this pyre blazing. oxygen is a key ingredient in this recipe for heat and light.

slowly, build your mini pyre. leaving the center open will allow oxygen to flow through and will get this pyre blazing. oxygen is a key ingredient in this recipe for heat and light.

don't overdo this, it must stay erect! you don't need to use all that you have gathered. now, you want the rocks on the side to be higher than the pile, so add sticks for height if you need to.

don't overdo this, it must stay erect! you don't need to use all that you have gathered. now, you want the rocks on the side to be higher than the pile, so add sticks for height if you need to.

put a few of your largest sized sticks laying across the rocks, and above the pyre.

put a few of your largest sized sticks laying across the rocks, and above the pyre.

you should have a decent amount of larger sticks left, if you don't, get back to gathering.

you should have a decent amount of larger sticks left, if you don't, get back to gathering.

using the stick bridge as support, layer on larger sticks around the pyre. Don't over compact. fire needs breathing room for oxygen. a common error in fire making is smothering it with too much wood.

using the stick bridge as support, layer on larger sticks around the pyre. Don't over compact. fire needs breathing room for oxygen. a common error in fire making is smothering it with too much wood.

grab a handful of dry pine needles or very thin wood shavings.

grab a handful of dry pine needles or very thin wood shavings.

watch out for wolves son!

watch out for wolves son!

now that it's getting dark and evil out, you will need this fire to keep off the descent of the wolf pack. wedge your handful of pine needles as close as you can to your original square base and light

now that it's getting dark and evil out, you will need this fire to keep off the descent of the wolf pack. wedge your handful of pine needles as close as you can to your original square base and light

watch the blaze catch your crafted pyre.

watch the blaze catch your crafted pyre.

it will soon grow. immensity. slowly add larger sticks and logs once it is good and hot. remember, don't smother it. once you have some red hot coals, you can add most anything.

  • sticks
  • stones
  • lighter
  • wolf whistle
  • having a hatchet helps