Fire Lighting

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Description

An introduction session about fire safety followed by learning the basics of lighting a fire safely.

Key things to be covered during session:
Fire Safety
Why we may need to light a fire - survival skills, can use it for warmth, to cook and to send a signal
Grading (tinder, kindling fuel)
Putting the fire out and why we must make sure its right out (wild fire)


Resources

Dry kindling if its been a bit wet
Long Matches and Fire lighters just in case...
First Aid Kit (including burns)
Bottles of Water to put fire out

Instructions

In Scout HQ Garden talk to YP about the expected behaviour around fires, no running, pushing shoving or generally messing around. Fire is hot and dangerous and consequences if they don't follow the rules.

Explain Grading (Start small and work your way up, be patient and get your materials ready before you start)
Tinder
Fine kindling (match to pencil)
Kindling (pencil to finger)
Main fuel (finger to wrist)
Large fuel (wrist to leg)
Extra large fuel (leg upwards)

Explain not to use Green materials (causes a lot of smoke and wont help a dwindling fire get going)


NOTE: There is a low risk of burns from fire lighting. However, these activities offer a real connection to the basics of survival and the Natural world with opportunities for skill development, environmental awareness and team working.

• Accelerants such as petrol, methylated spirits or paraffin must NOT be used
• Make sure all participants have long hair lied back out of the way
• Tell participants to blow gently on their ember and place it in their fire pit as soon as they see a flame.
Don’t hold on to it for too long!
• Tell participants not to get too close to their fire if there is lots of smoke
• Do not feed fires with green/fresh materials; this will increase the amount of smoke
• Keep the areas around fire clear of flammable materials to avoid fires spreading, if on ground ensure leaves are cleared away particularly if dry and DO NOT firelight on floor if particularly dry weather (use a pit)
• Do not allow fires to become too large
• Secure all fire lighting equipment at the end of the activity


Tags

  • backwards cooking
  • fire lighting

Badge Links

  • Adventure - Outdoor activity
  • Outdoors - Make fire
  • The Great Indoors - Outdoor skills
  • The Great Indoors - Practical skills