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Over the course of history, humans have invented many different ways to start a fire. A campfire is simply indispensable outdoors, in the forest or taiga. It's not just a source of heat. It helps cook hot food, dry wet laundry, and has other benefits.
A fire provides additional security or an SOS signal. Any animal, like humans, is terrified of an attack by this element. Unfortunately, few people know how to make fire in the 21st century without special devices, matches, or lighters. Hunters and fishermen are familiar with some fire-starting techniques. Therefore, we recommend reading our publication to avoid being caught off guard while rafting.
What improvised means can be used to make a fire?
Many people have known about common methods since childhood. But it turns out that fire can actually be started using more than just friction or magnifying lenses or glass. Let's look at the most common methods for obtaining this vital source:
1. Wood friction. This is a familiar method. The downside is that it takes a long time to produce the first sparks. The key is choosing the right wood. The taiga of the Putorana Plateau is abundant with coniferous trees that are suitable for kindling. There are many friction methods, but we suggest considering a more convenient and quick one. You'll need dry pine, aspen, cedar, or willow wood. Make one stick the core and a board for friction. Rub the stick/core against the board along its axis. The more diligently you rub, the faster the result will be. You can also use tinder made from dry leaves; this will speed up spark production. Just cut a special hole in the board in the shape of the English letter "V." After the first sparks appear, add moss or prepared aspen bark.
2. Chemicals can also help start a fire. But where can you find the necessary chemicals in the taiga? The answer is simple: you'll need potassium permanganate, commonly found in first aid kits, and some sugar in a 1:9 ratio. Alternatively, you can mix potassium permanganate with glycerin. These two ingredients also need to be rubbed together until they ignite.
3. Using a condom while rafting helps keep certain items safe from water. It turns out, you can even use it to start a fire. Incidentally, you don't have to use friction. Simply fill the rubber condom with water and, as you were taught as a child, use it as a magnifying glass or lens. This method is quite simple and straightforward. Simply point the water-filled condom at the tinder, and voila.
4. Rolling cotton wool isn't what young people call loafing around or twiddling their thumbs. It's a real fire-making method developed by long-suffering Gulag prisoners.
- You'll need to make a cotton roll and, again using wood, vigorously rub it against the board. The cotton helps start the fire faster than in the method described above.
- Another method for rolling cotton wool is as follows: take two pieces of cotton wool and smooth them out to create a smooth surface. Place the end of one piece on top of the other, then roll both ends into rolls, each with an arc pointing toward the other. The resulting roll will also need to be rubbed with two sticks. The key is that this can be done standing up, without bending over or using the ground.
5. A flashlight, but you will have to break it and the bulb in it, and use the filament of the lamp as a means of ignition when turning it on, using the same cotton wool, tinder, etc.
There are also a lot of other possible options, for example, using a rocket launcher or a gun.
