Types of fires and how to make them. Safe night fire. III. Explanation of new material

A recent boat trip made me remember everything. The fire cooked food for us, scared the bears and just kept us warm. We used different types of fires in different situations. Usually it was a taiga well, a node.

Functional types of fires

I know about a dozen fires, but I don’t use all of them on a hike. I only use 3-4 regularly. If you scour the Internet, you can find various exotic ways making a fire. But this is more entertainment than necessity.

Each type of fire has its own purpose: cooking, heating, lighting. Although most of them are multifunctional and solve several problems at once.

Therefore, when choosing the type of fire that you are going to light, first of all, be guided by the quality of the available firewood and the tools with which you can get it. If you set up a camp in a crooked forest or tundra zone, or there are centuries-old larches around you, but there is neither a saw nor an ax, then it is unlikely that you will succeed taiga fire Nodya.

TOP 8 ways to make fires

So, let's start with the most popular and convenient for cooking. In my opinion, this is a fire well or a log house.

Well

There are two ways to make a fire in a well. Either the firewood is stacked in the form of a well, and kindling is lit in the center, or the lit kindling (brushwood) is surrounded by firewood.

To quickly boil the water, the suspended boiler is also slightly lined.

Hut

I would rather call it chum. More often it is used for an igniter, then a well is laid out on its basis.

If you burn a lot of wood in a hut, you get a very bright (pioneer) fire, convenient for illuminating a clearing. The disadvantage is that wood burns quickly.

Nodya

In my opinion, the most suitable fire for lying down (overnight without a tent). Nodya can be very different - from two, three logs and even with a suspended log, but all these complex designs seem to me to be “from the evil one.”

I only use a three-log structure, although I recently read that the two-log node design is considered classic. I specifically tested it on a hike and made a separate article about it and a short review film, which was included in the series Types of Fires, the video was posted on our website’s YouTube channel.

For a three-log taiga fire Nodya you need three logs from 1.5 to 2 m and two small sticks. The sticks are placed on the ground. Two logs are laid on them, with notches previously made with an ax.

Kindling is placed on top of the logs in three or four piles. I usually let the bottom logs burn before placing the top log on top. Firstly, it will still burn faster. Secondly, while only the lower logs are burning, it is very convenient to place a boiler on them (or at least five) and first cook the food, and only then put the upper log, which will immediately take over and provide a lot of light and heat.

You can cook on the node even when the top log has already been laid. Just move it half a meter to the side and place the cauldron on the edge.

Useful articles:

It is preferable to make a node from coniferous species, but any will do dry wood. A nodya made of logs with a diameter of 25-30 cm burns for 6 hours and provides a warm overnight stay.

On a recent hike, the nodya not only kept us warm, but also scared away the bears.

Taiga

A taiga fire is laid out on an already burning fire of another type or, less often, lit on its own.

All taiga logs lie parallel and thus heat each other tightly pressed. The fire is very economical, produces a lot of heat and little smoke. First of all, it is convenient for heating, but it is also good for cooking, especially if there are several boilers.

Several other types of fires are also called taiga, and their main purpose is to provide warmth.

Taiga-gun

The logs are placed with one edge on a log placed perpendicularly to the ground. Thanks to this, air is blown in from below and combustion is more intense.

Taiga-Tunguska

For a Tunguska fire you need 5-6 poles, about 3 meters long, as well as a log with a diameter of 25-30 cm and a length of about 1 meter.

The log is placed on the ground, the poles are laid at one end on it (the design is somewhat similar to the Katyusha mortar). Kindling is laid out between the log and the poles, from which the poles begin to burn.

As the poles burn, a hot pile of coals forms underneath them. Their heat reflects off the log, turning into directed heat. As they burn, the poles must be moved.

This type of fire is suitable for spending the night without a tent, although it only produces heat on one side, where the bed is made.

Finnish candle

Finnish candle This is a block of wood 40-60 cm high with two cross-shaped cuts approximately to the middle.

A small fire is lit in the center of the log, which, burning into its depths, ignites the inner layers of wood there. Combustion is fed by air through cuts on four sides.

The purpose is mainly for cooking. This is a kind of wooden primus stove. It burns for a long time, you can even use it two or even three times, extinguishing it with water, and then filling it again - pouring red coals from the main fire into the burnt-out hollow. A Finnish candle does not provide any heat, but is convenient for cooking, does not leave a fire, and can be moved while burning to another place (unlike a fire).

This is a Philippine candle, similar to the Finnish one, we made from a piece of bamboo during our kayaking trip in the Philippines. Despite the exotic material, the design is similar and the purpose is the same.

Lazy candle

Lazy candle, that’s what I call another version of the Finnish candle. Lazy because you don't have to make cuts. Take three identical logs, and use an ax to make notches on one side of each. The logs are placed vertically, pressed tightly against each other. It turns out to be a kind of vertical node.

Just like the Finnish light, it lights up from above. It's also convenient to cook. The disadvantages are that, unlike the classic Finnish candle, it cannot be reused, it cannot be moved as a burner, it leaves a small fire. Pros - it gives warmth and light.

In my opinion, this set of fires is sufficient for traveling even in the harshest conditions. I would also like to note that I give the types of fires and their names as I used to call them, although it is possible that in other sources they are different.

Based on this knowledge, I am not particularly puzzled by which fire to light in a given situation, but rather act on a whim, having inspected the place for the future bivouac.

Dmitry Ryumkin, especially for Zabroska.rf

The place for the fire should not be too windy (if this is not possible, then a reflector is usually made for the fire from logs or scrap materials), away from low trees and preferably close to water.

a) in coniferous forests, since a lot of small forest debris and needles accumulate on the soil surface, and the bark of these trees has a specific structure;

b) on peat bogs - fire can easily go deeper;

c) near fields of grain crops (dry hay nearby ignites very easily and can burn the entire field).

The fire should be located at a distance of about 5 m from the tents and on the leeward side.

Be sure to clear the fireplace of dead wood within a radius of 0.5-1.5 m, depending on the planned size of the fire. If the ground is wet, it is better to lay a layer of stones in place of the fire pit.

Kindling and fuel

Kindling is a flammable material that helps start a fire, as it is much easier to get a fire going with kindling first than trying to light a thick and sometimes even wet log.

For kindling in the absence of paper, the following are very good: dry leaves, dry grass, reeds, dry wood chips, fluff, dry birch bark, lichens, tinder, fir cones, cotton fabric, small pieces of rubber tires, plexiglass.

So that in wet weather there is no big problems when lighting, it is better to take additional supplies with you in advance: lighter fluid, dry alcohol, candles, sunflower oil(the paper is moistened with it), etc.

Firewood

Each wood burns differently, so when collecting firewood it is better to choose what suits you:

a) oak wood burns for a long time, it’s hot, and the flame is not too big;

b) coniferous firewood and spruce branches burn very well, but spark a lot.

Any fresh wood or grass produces a lot of smoke, which is usually required only as a signal to rescuers or to scare off blood-sucking insects.

If there are no trees nearby (for example, you are in the steppe), then as a last resort you can set fire to dry animal droppings.

Lighting and maintaining a fire

The main item in the equipment of any tourist or scout is a fire source. Lighters and matches are worth their weight in gold when camping. But if suddenly they are not there, do not despair - fire can be produced in other fairly well-known ways:

1) use of lens(from glasses, fragments from bottles, etc.). It is unlikely that you will have a magnifying glass on your camping trip, so you will have to make one yourself - just pour water into the recess of the curved glass. The light from the resulting lens can then be focused onto the kindling. The larger the lens, the more powerful it is and the faster the fire will ignite;

2) friction. This method is quite labor-intensive and is rarely used, in the most desperate cases. You can rub wood against wood, and in the place of friction put something flammable, for example tinder or a mixture of sugar and potassium permanganate in a ratio of 1:9, respectively;

3) spark. It can be obtained car battery or by hitting a piece of silicon on metal.

Types of fires

There are bonfires different types: depending on the number of people, duration of use, purpose (for cooking, heating, lighting, alarm and mosquito repellent).

Bonfire "hut"

Functions and characteristics. The most common type of hut, as it is universal. It burns hot, so it requires a lot of wood.

Device. First, kindling material is laid, which is then covered with logs. middle length in the form of a hut (Fig.).

Drawing. Bonfire "hut"

Bonfire "well"

Functions and characteristics. Its flame is wide and low, so such a fire is very convenient for cooking, drying clothes and lighting. It burns more slowly than the “hut”, but is not at all protected from rain. The pot can be placed directly on the log house.

Device. It is laid out in the form of a square-shaped log house made of branches or logs of approximately the same length (Fig.).

Drawing. Bonfire "well"

Bonfire "Nodya"

Functions and characteristics. It is oblong and narrow, used for heating during overnight stays, and tall type The design is very convenient for drying clothes. It burns for a very long time.

Device. The low type of structure is made from 3 very long logs: 2 of them are laid parallel next to each other, kindling is placed between them, and then a third log is also placed parallel on top.

A tall type of structure is made by building a “fence”: 4 sticks are driven into the ground, and long logs are inserted between them (Fig.).

Drawing. Nodya fire: a) made of three logs; b) a fence

Bonfire "star"

Functions and characteristics. A simple, convenient, economical fire for not large group people, used for cooking and heating. It does not require constant adding of new firewood, but it does need to be monitored. Not protected from rain.

Device. Kindling is placed in the center, and around it - 5-10 thick logs (Fig.). As the logs burn in the center, whole parts of the logs must be moved towards it so that the fire does not disintegrate and go out.

Drawing. Bonfire "star"

Polynesian fire

Functions and characteristics. It is distinguished by its invisibility, is indispensable in very strong winds, it is economical, the firewood does not need to be placed or pushed towards the center - it falls into a pile on its own and burns completely. Used for cooking.

Device. In the future center of the fire, a hole approximately 1 m deep is dug, the walls of which are lined with logs (Fig.). To protect the fire from dying out, it needs to be provided with air access: for this, another small hole and a narrow adjacent passage to the fire are sometimes dug nearby.

Drawing. Polynesian fire

Bonfire "pyramid"

Functions and characteristics. It is used for heating and sleeping, it is tall and burns for a very long time.

Device. First, 2 parallel logs are laid at some distance from each other, then a layer of other logs is laid across them, a third layer is laid across the second row, and so on until a pyramid-shaped structure is formed (Fig.). The fire is lit from above.

Drawing. Bonfire "pyramid"

Precautionary measures

1. After leaving the campsite, you should always fill the fire with water, even if it seems completely extinguished.

2. Don't light a huge, tall fire just for fun. It will not bring any benefit, and the danger is very great, since it is difficult to control.

3. You cannot leave the fire unattended, especially in strong winds, you must:

a) extinguish small fires on the grass from flying sparks;

b) move the logs to the center of the hearth;

c) make sure that the clothes being dried do not catch fire;

d) if the fire burns all night, then a watch should be arranged, etc.

The main rule of any tourist or scout is constant attention to the fire: when it is weak, make sure that it does not go out, when it is strong, so that it does not start a fire. Only then will fire become your friend and helper, and not a source of problems.

Throughout his entire history of existence, man has come up with a large number of the most different types fires designed for certain tasks. We will look at the so-called tourist, or as they are also called, campfires, which are used in the wild for cooking, heating, drying things, are made from scrap materials and allow you to survive in various extreme situations.

For example, in the photo below there is a fire called the Well, one of the most universal:

According to their purpose, all types of fires can be divided into the following categories:

• For heating and drying things. Sometimes such fires are also called fires, since they are intended mainly to produce heat. These include, for example, the “Shalash” and “Nodya” fires;
• For an overnight stay in the cold season. Taiga fires such as “Nodya” and “Hunting Trough” are indispensable here;
• For cooking. The “Well”, “Star”, “Finnish Candle” and a number of other fires are well suited for these purposes, for example, those that produce a lot of coals and heat, such as the “Polynesian” and “Dakota Hearth”;
• To illuminate the area and additionally to scare away wild animals. The Hut is best suited for this, but many other fires also do a good job;
• To give signals. Most often, rescuers use the “Hut” as an identification fire to attract attention, for example.

The picture below shows different types of fires:

Also, many types of fires can be combined, resulting in a fire with the desired properties. For example, in the video below there is a combination of the Starry Fire and the Dakota Hearth:

Shalash (or Pioneer)

The principle of folding the Hut is simple: the collected dry branches are installed vertically, leaning against each other with their upper ends. The fire is started from below.

This type of campfire is the most famous and popular tourist option. It is he who is taught primarily due to its simplicity and ability to ignite quickly.

This type of fire is used to quickly warm people, for example, those who are frozen in the mountains, dry things, cook food and illuminate the area. Due to the fact that this fire flares up quickly and brightly, it is used as a signal fire when it is necessary to get a bright fire in the shortest possible time so that it can be noticed from a passing plane or helicopter.

An important advantage of the Hut is its rapid combustion and the fact that it produces a lot of heat.

The Hut can also be called a starter fire, that is, it can be lit in order to subsequently light other fires with its coals or be transformed into them.

The advantages of the Hut include:

• Ease of manufacture;
• Ease and speed;
• The brightness of combustion and, accordingly, lighting.

There are also disadvantages to a fire built in a hut. These include:

• Fast combustion of fuel. This fireplace is very “gluttonous” and requires a lot of firewood to maintain its combustion;
• The need for constant “care” for the fire. It is unlikely that you will be able to sleep while warming yourself with the warmth of such a fire, since it will quickly burn out and go out.

It is advisable to use a hut to ignite more complex, but at the same time more effective fires that do not require large quantity firewood and constant supervision. Its structure provides good conditions for fire - optimal distance between coals and a good flow of oxygen.

Also, the Hut is the best fire for sending signals from the ground: bright lights visible at a great distance. Green plants thrown into a fire can produce thick White smoke, which also serves to indicate your location, but this must be done on open area(Tree crowns will trap and disperse smoke, reducing the chances of the event being successful).

Star (or Asterisk)

This fire is laid out from thick branches or logs in the form of rays diverging in different directions from the center. The number of logs is chosen according to the situation: I managed to burn this fire using only three logs, but of course, the more there are, the stronger the heat and the wider the burning zone.

Combustion occurs in the center of the fire and does not spread beyond its boundaries due to the fact that the logs move away from the center in different directions, which means that at a distance from the center they are not able to sufficiently heat each other, maintaining combustion.

An example of an Asterisk - in the photo:

The main purpose of this fire is cooking, as it gives an even fire, is easily adjusted by moving the logs towards the center and moving apart, and is one of the most economical in terms of wood consumption.

There is a common belief that the Asterisk can be used by a group of people to comfortable sleep. Just lie there and occasionally move it towards the center of the log. But, as far as I can judge, this fire is not suitable for such purposes: firstly, you still need to move the logs, which means you won’t get much sleep, and secondly, either your heels or your head will warm up, which is not enough for a full-fledged sleeping in cold conditions.

You can light such a fire with a hut, and then in the coals with different sides push the ends of the logs.

As the logs burn, they move toward the center. If the fire needs to be put out, the logs are moved some distance from the center.

Advantages of the Asterisk:

• Cost-effective and low consumption of firewood;
• Convenience in adjusting the combustion intensity;
• Undemanding in care and maintenance.

Disadvantages of the Asterisk:

• More or less thick branches or logs are required. Thin branches will quickly burn out (though not as quickly as in the Hut);
• The limited working area of ​​the fire allows you to place a small amount of dishes above the fire.

Thus, the Star Fire is most beneficial for cooking when there is a limited supply of firewood and a small number of people in the hiking group. You can also use it for heating, lighting and drying things, but in comparison with some other types of fires, it is significantly inferior to them in this regard.

Hunting (Fishing)

The basis of a hunting fire is a horizontally lying dry log, under which a fire is lit using smaller fuel, for example, branches and wood chips, laid with the upper ends on the log. log in in this case serves as a screen for heat, reflecting it onto a person sitting in front of the fire. Over time, the log itself begins to smolder, increasing the effectiveness of the fire as a heater.

A hunting fire is also good for long-term heating - with some effort you can even spend the night near it.

A fishing fire is primarily intended for heating, drying things and cooking. It copes poorly with the role of lighting, since it illuminates only the area on one side of the log, and the branches placed on the fire interfere with the light coming out until they themselves light up. If there are two people in the group and there is no shortage of wood, the second person can also light a fire on the other side of the log, increasing the working area of ​​the fire.

Such a fire is not very suitable for use in the snow, since the burning branches will melt the snow, plunging into it, and the log will remain on the surface, ceasing to perform its function.

The advantages of the Hunting Fire are:

• Easy to manufacture and manage. By and large, this is the same hut that was lit under a log laid horizontally on the ground and with branches resting on it;
• Gives more warmth to the person sitting in front of him due to screening infrared radiation from a log;
• Economical compared to many other types of simple fires, for example, compared to the Well.

The disadvantages of this fire are the following:

• Requires the presence of a large dry log, which cannot always be found or prepared, for example, in the steppe zone;
• Heats and illuminates only on one side.

The hunting fire is suitable for use by one or two people warm time years if there is a dry log and the need to warm up and cook food.

Well

The well is a kind of wooden frame, due to which it burns for a relatively long time and is one of those fires that allows you to save fuel.

It is used for cooking, drying things, heating and partly for lighting the area around the fire. The well, thanks to its working area, allows you to cook food simultaneously in several containers suspended above the fire, for example, on a metal cable. Personally, I placed the pot directly in the center of the fire and continued to cover it with wood, getting the water in it to boil quickly.

To build this fire, I recommend starting with the Shack fire. When the Hut flares up a little, on both sides of it you need to place two small logs in parallel. Then two more logs are placed on the edges of these logs on both sides perpendicular to them - a square of four logs is obtained, inside which the Hut burns. Next, the procedure is repeated several more times until a kind of well with a square cross-section is obtained.

A typical well in a forest where thick, dry logs are available.

Firewood stacked in this way quickly dries out if it suddenly turns out to be wet, and flares up. After this, new firewood is added to the fire in the same way, without worrying about the inner hut.

The well has the following advantages:

• Economical in terms of wood consumption.
• Even small diameter firewood can be used.
• Convenient for simultaneously drying damp firewood.
• Allows you to cook food in several containers at once.
• Produces good coals for a variety of purposes such as cooking and refilling your water filter.
• Convenient for drying clothes and shoes and partly for lighting.

I did not identify any significant shortcomings of the Well as such. I constantly use this fire as my main one and am quite pleased with it.

A well is a completely suitable type of fire for heating and cooking both on a solo hike and in group field trips, especially where fuel economy is required.

Lattice

This fire is similar to the Well with the only difference that on each floor of the Lattice, starting from the third, not two, but three or more logs are placed in parallel. The basis for the Lattice can be a flooring made from a row of parallel lying logs pressed against each other. The first, second and third floors are made by analogy with a well, and inside it is a Hut.

The grate is similar in its features to the Well, but requires more firewood and, accordingly, produces more heat. Recommendations for its use are the same as for the Well.

Pyramid (or Reverse, or Inverted Pyramid)

This fire is a pyramid, each floor of which is lined with a flooring of logs, and each subsequent floor is placed perpendicular to the previous one.

A significant difference between this fire and most others is that it is lit not from below, but rather from above. Thus, the tongues of fire rising upward cannot ignite the lower logs, which are ignited only by burning coals falling into the cracks. This feature allows the fire to burn for quite a long time.

The photo shows what it looks like:

Sometimes, in order to prolong the burning of the fire, a thin layer of earth is poured between the logs of the lower floors, which prevents the premature spread of burning coals along the lowest floors.

This fire is built and lit only once and no longer requires maintenance, which is convenient, for example, for heating while sleeping. It illuminates the area around it well, provides a lot of heat and allows you to cook food even for a large group of people.

As in previous cases, it is convenient to light such a fire using a Hut, placing it at the very top of the Pyramid.

The pyramid has the following advantages:

• Gives a lot of heat, which is convenient for drying things, heating a large number of people and preparing food for a large group;
• Gives a lot of light;
• Does not require maintenance, which is convenient for spending the night near such a fire in the mountains, forest or steppe;
• Gives a lot of coals.

The main disadvantage of the Pyramid is high consumption There is enough thick firewood that still needs to be prepared and stacked according to the rules. However, for a large group of hunters or tourists this should not be too difficult.

In connection with the above, we can conclude that the Pyramid is good for a large group of people in the presence of an unlimited amount of dead wood, if there are no problems in felling trees, delivering them to the site of the future fire and cutting trunks into logs of the required length.

Trench

This is one of the types of fires that need to be built in a pit.

The trench can be opened in windy weather. In this case, the walls of the pit will serve as a natural wind barrier. To ensure that the hearth receives a sufficient amount of oxygen necessary for burning wood, a pit is made rectangular shape, and the fire itself is lit on one side. Thus, fresh air enters the fireplace from the opposite side of the pit - and the fire continues to burn.

A trench is advisable during strong winds, if it is not possible to organize other protection from the wind of a flaring fire. It is convenient for cooking and produces more heat due to infrared rays reflected from the walls of the pit. But it is not suitable for heating and lighting due to the fact that the walls of the pit prevent the escape of light and heat.

You can make any of the convenient fires inside such a pit, for example, a Hut, a Well or a Lattice, because a Trench is not a way of laying firewood, but an option for placing it in a hole of a certain shape.

Sometimes this fire can be organized for the so-called “fire bed”, when the resulting coals are scattered over the entire area of ​​the pit and covered with a layer of earth. Over time, the earth warms up and warms the person lying on it for some time. However, this option is also useless at sub-zero temperatures, since the ground freezes, which means digging a hole in it becomes difficult, if not impossible.

The advantages of the Trench are as follows:

• The ability to light a fire in windy weather, although there are other more effective ways making a fire in such conditions;
• Relatively low consumption of firewood;
• With a large amount of fuel, it is possible to transform the fire into a “bed of fire”;
• This fire is relatively safe, as the likelihood of fire spreading and fires is reduced;
• Lack of fireplace when digging a hole.

The Trench also has plenty of disadvantages:

• Expenditure of effort and time on digging a hole;
• The impossibility of digging holes in frozen or rocky soil, as well as on rocks;
• Need tools for digging;
• This fire is highly specialized and is intended mainly for cooking;
• It cannot be grown on peat bogs: it is dangerous due to peat fires.

As for me, such a fire makes sense only as an intermediate link for making a fire bed in dry conditions. loose soil and positive air temperatures. And then for a warm overnight stay, you can use simpler and more effective options, for example, Nodya or the Hunting Trough, which I’ll talk about a little later.

Polynesian

This is a type of fire in a pit. In this option, a cone-shaped hole is dug, inside which a fire is lit. It is better to start with the Hut, and then lay the firewood in the form of an asterisk, resting it on the walls of the pit. Thus, burning in the center of the pit, the firewood will gradually slide inside without requiring additional intervention.

This fire is good for cooking and producing a large amount of coals. It is not very suitable for lighting and heating, although, like most other fires, it partially copes with these tasks.

The photo shows a pit for such a fire:

The advantages of this fire include:

• Possibility to light a fire in windy weather.
• Saving firewood and high efficiency.
• No need to constantly manage the fire.
• This fire is safe because it reduces the likelihood of fire spreading and causing fires.
• When the hole is filled with earth, there is no fire pit in place of the fire.

The disadvantages of the Polynesian fire are the same as those of the Trench fire, except that the Polynesian can be dug relatively easily and quickly, even with a stick sharpened by a stone.

This type of fire is advisable to use for cooking, especially for roasting in coals with a small amount of firewood.

Dakota Hearth (or Pit Fire, or Scout's Fire)

This is another entrenched fire that burns in a specially prepared pit. Sometimes it is classified as a hidden fire due to the fact that, if desired, the fire of this fire can be easily hidden from prying eyes.

In this case, the pit has a flask shape, and fresh air is supplied into it through an air duct connecting the bottom of the pit with the surface of the earth.

Scout's fire due to traction fresh air through the air duct it independently inflates its own coals, and due to the bottom and walls of the pit it accumulates heat, creating maximum temperature inside. This makes it good for cooking with a minimum amount of firewood.

Technologically, the Dakota hearth is similar to the Polynesian fire, but differs from it in the presence of an air duct and, as a result, more active burning of wood.

I spoke in detail about this type of fire and its creation in

It has the same advantages and disadvantages as the Polynesian fire, but requires high costs time for your organization and the need for firewood of a certain length (long branches will not fit in it). In addition, you can only hang one container above it, which is inconvenient for cooking for a large group when trying to put several pots on the fire at the same time.

However, at the same time, the Dakota hearth produces more heat and, when covered with a flat stone or frying pan, can be used to hide its location in case of light rain or in a dugout.

A Dakota hearth with draft can be recommended for use in the warm season on soft soil in conditions where it is necessary to hide one’s presence in a certain area, but there is still a need to organize a fire. It is also good for cooking, including baking for a small group of people.

Finnish candle (or Wooden primus stove, or Bonfire from a log)

In the classic version, the Finnish candle represents a thick deck placed on its end, which was cut in half. Chips cut from the core of the log are placed in the middle and set on fire. Thus, the fire in a classic Finnish candle burns between the two halves of the deck. Sometimes the deck is cut into large quantity logs, and sometimes they only make cuts in it. The essence does not change from this.

The Finnish candle is intended mainly for cooking, but some of its variations are also used to illuminate the area. The photo below shows a Finnish candle made from sawn logs:

There are many modern options this fire is convenient for certain conditions and tasks. About how they work and how to light them -. Here we will talk about their pros and cons.

Among the advantages of the Finnish candle are:

• Compactness. The fire does not take up much space;
• Economical. The fire inside a thick log can burn for hours;
• This is one of the few portable fire pits. If necessary, it can be easily moved to a new location;
• Not afraid of wind and rain. The candle is protected from the wind by its design, and from the rain by the ability to cover it with a flat stone or a dish in which food is prepared;
• Some versions of this fire do not leave a fire pit on the ground and, if absolutely necessary, can be used with caution even on peat bogs.

The disadvantages of this hearth include:

• The need for an ax or saw. Making a fire with your bare hands will be problematic;
• The need for thick logs. Without logs you won’t be able to make a fireplace;
• Inability to simultaneously put two or more containers of food or water on the fire;
• Some options cannot be used for heating and drying things.

Thus, the Finnish candle can be recommended for a small group of people in the warm season, when there is dead wood with a trunk thickness of at least 5 cm, the group has a saw, an ax or other tool convenient for working with wood, and also if it is necessary to illuminate the area V dark time days.

Nodya

Nodya is a name given to a series of taiga long-burning fires, intended primarily for heating for a long time, for example, on a winter night.

A classic node is two thick logs laid horizontally on top of each other, up to 2 meters long (according to a person’s height). The fire in this fire burns between the logs along their entire length.

The two-log nodya is a classic taiga option.

There are other options for nodya that allow you not only to warm up, but also to cook food. About them -

The main advantage of this fire is its ability to burn for a long time (sometimes more than 10 hours) without adding additional firewood, providing stable heat and warming even when the air temperature drops below -20°C.

Besides, classic version Nodi, thanks to the radiation of heat to the sides, and not up and down, and the large area of ​​​​contact with the surface of the snow, does not heat it, which means it can be organized even in deep snow without the need to clear snowdrifts to the ground. Although in some cases, to be on the safe side, you can place two thin, long logs under Nodya perpendicular to her, which will increase the area of ​​contact with the snow and will rest against areas of snow that have not been sunk by the fire.

However, Nodya also has a number of shortcomings. This is first of all:

• The need for dead wood with a trunk thickness of at least 20 cm;
• The need for an ax or saw to work with wood;
• The relative difficulty of organizing this fire;
• During overnight stays, heating is possible for no more than two people.

In general, this fire is one of the few that can be used as a warming fire when spending the night in winter time on a solo hike or a hiking group of two people with dead wood and an ax.

Hunting trough

This fire consists of thin logs laid in parallel stacks on top of each other. It is set on fire from one edge and gradually burns out along its entire length, producing a lot of coals and heat.

Just like Nodya, the Hunting Trough is used for heating during overnight stays in winter, mainly in wooded areas where there is enough fuel for this fire. But unlike Nodya, this fire is convenient for heating and cooking food. This fire looks like this:

In order to make such a hearth, you need:

1. Get thirteen logs of approximately the same length. Their length will determine the burning time of the fire: the longer they are, the longer the fire will burn;
2. Knock off long knots on logs. Short knots can be left: thanks to them, the structure of the fire will not fall apart;
3. Place four logs on the ground as closely as possible to each other;
4. Lay the second row of three logs on top parallel to the first, but so that the edges bottom row stood half a meter forward;
5. The third row of three logs is laid similarly to the second, but the ends are shifted closer to the edges of the first;
6. The fourth row also consists of three logs laid on top of the others, but its edges coincide with those of the first row;
7. The kindling is placed on the first row so that the third and fourth rows hang over it.

Igniting the kindling will cause all rows to ignite and the fire to slowly move along the logs.

In order to restrain the spread of fire, thereby prolonging the burning of the fire, the upper logs can be lightly covered with snow in winter.

The advantages of this fire compared to Nodya are as follows:

• You can achieve longer burning.
• Logs of smaller diameter are required, which are easier to find and transport to the fire site.
• You can cook food on such a fireplace.

But there are also disadvantages, including:

• Requirement for large amounts of fuel.
• The hottest part of the fire gradually moves from one end to the other, which may not be very comfortable during sleep.

This is a practical forest fire, which makes sense if you need to spend the night in winter forest for a group of people or for one person left without an ax and a saw, because often even a tired traveler can knock down thin dead wood and break it, placing it between tree trunks.

Taiga (or Evenki fire)

Taiga fires, often also called Evenk (Even) or Yakut, are considered to be a whole family of long-burning fires, used in the cold season mainly for heating. But in this case, we will look at the fire with the name “Taiga”. It is also sometimes called Tunguska.

It consists of a log lying on the ground, on which thinner logs (at least three) are placed perpendicularly and diagonally. These logs are in contact with each other with their upper ends, and their lower ends diverge to the sides and lie on the ground. Combustion occurs at the point where their ends touch, and the heat emitted by the falling coals is reflected from the log lying on the ground.

An example of such a fire is shown in the photo:

This fire requires maintenance in the form of periodically moving the logs as they burn out, and can be ignited in two ways - either the Hut is set on fire under the ends of the logs, or the Hut is built directly at the places where the logs touch. In the second case, the logs are moved during ignition so that the kindling does not fall into the cracks between them.

This fire is good for heating food, especially in winter, since it does not require additional manipulations to stay on the surface: even with strong burning, this fire will always remain on the snow, and not heat it, sinking to the ground. Also, thanks to heat shielding, Taiga will warm people sitting in front of it.

Compared to Nodya and the Hunting Trough, this fire requires less fuel, and therefore less work on preparing firewood, but it requires periodic pushing of logs, and therefore is not very good for heating during sleep. In addition, the fire in the case of a Taiga fire has a point rather than a linear character, which means that its heating of a lying person will be uneven.

But despite the shortcomings of this fire, it can still be used on a solo hike or in a small tourist group, especially if you have warm sleeping bags, due to the fact that it does not require a lot of time, fuel and tools for its organization and allows you to warm up and cook hot food. food.

Fire in adverse conditions

In the wild, situations often arise that are unfavorable for lighting a fire. In this case, additional manipulations are required, which we will consider below.

IN strong wind when air currents prevent you from lighting a fire, you can:

• Use one of the types of dug fires built in a pit, for example, a Dakota hearth or a Trench;
• Find a natural or create an artificial shelter that will protect the future fire from the wind. For these purposes, a karimat is well suited, which is held or fastened on the windward side, that is, on the side from which the wind blows;
• It is good to dig around the fire, or surround it on the sides with stones.

In rainy weather you can:

• Make one of the options for rain-resistant fires, for example, a Finnish candle, and in case of insignificant and rare precipitation - a Dakota hearth, covering them, if necessary, with dishes or a flat stone.
• Find a natural shelter, for example, a cave entrance, or build your own, for example, by hanging an awning or a piece of polyethylene. In the case of polyethylene, care must be taken so that fire or fire sparks do not burn through it.

However, practice shows that with an abundance of wood, the fire burns normally and provides sufficient heat even in heavy rain:

I already talked about where to get dry kindling and how to effectively light a fire in wet weather.

In deep snow you can:

• Organize a fire that does not melt the snow to the ground, for example, Taiga;
• Dig the snow down to the ground and build the desired fire in the hole;
• Make a deck of logs for a future fire.

In a swamp, it is also advisable to make a flooring of logs, which is covered with a layer of earth so that the logs do not burn out over time. short term while the fire is burning on them.

By the way, the flooring in the form of a raft is used to light a signal fire on it when it becomes necessary to give a signal from the water. This, for example, can happen in a forest near a river that is visible from the air. Fire and smoke from a fire will be barely noticeable in the thick of the forest, but if the fire is lit on a raft, which is launched into the water, having first tied it to both banks or to an anchor, then the chances of being noticed increase sharply.

TOP 5 fires for survival

To feel comfortable in the wild, there is no need to memorize all the variety of fires. It is enough to learn to use only a few of them.

The body of knowledge about these fires should cover the entire range of tasks related to fire that can be solved in survival conditions, and the fires themselves should be easy to construct, both with and without tools.

Below I present a small list of just five fires, which, in my opinion, every person whose activity or recreation is in one way or another connected with a long stay in the wild should know. Although I know of experienced tourists who have known and used for decades one single fire - the “Hut”. Nevertheless, in survival conditions there are no trifles, and an incorrectly selected fire (and the Hut, for example, is completely unsuitable for a winter overnight stay) can cost a person comfort, and sometimes even life itself.

A bivouac in the winter taiga without using a tent, which allows you to spend the night without risk to life and health.

So, having considered what types of fires there are and what they are needed for, we can make the TOP 5 best fires for survival:

1. Hut. Used when there is a lot of brushwood, strong heat and light are needed, for example, to give signals.
2. Well. It is used when there is little brushwood, it is wet and you need to cook food and warm up.
3. Star. Good when you have a small amount of thin logs and you need to cook food.
4. Taiga. It is advisable when there are thin logs and you need to cook food over a fire and warm up, as well as take a short nap.
5. Nodya. Indispensable when you have thick logs and an axe, while everyone needs to cook food and sleep through a cold winter night without a sleeping bag.

Here I have not talked about all types of fires, since their diversity is great, and over time more and more new ones appear. However, to provide a person with light, warmth, the ability to cook food for themselves and boil water under almost any conditions, this list, it seems to me, should be sufficient.

Still, the main task for a person in an emergency situation is not to remember a thousand types of fires, but to choose the most suitable one for the conditions in which the person finds himself and the problems that he needs to solve.

A fire built in the forest is almost one of the most important conditions survival. You keep warm with a fire, dry your clothes, and cook food on a fire. How cozy and warm it feels when you light a fire in cold, stormy weather. It is not without reason that people have worshiped fire since ancient times. There are several types of fires, each of which has its own advantages.

Bonfire Hut is one of the most famous and widespread types of fire. Suitable for both cooking and heating. It is very easy to use and equipment, and flares up quickly. It is necessary to place firewood at an angle on the kindling in the form of a hut. The burning temperature of a Hut type fire is quite high, and such a fire burns out quickly, so it is necessary to frequently add firewood.

The Star Fire burns for a long time and is suitable for cooking. It is advisable to use firewood made from hardwood. As the wood burns, it is moved to the center of the fire. This type of fire can be used for heating at night.

Bonfire Well (Hut) - has an even flame, very good for cooking. It burns out pretty quickly. The fire is built in the form of a log house.

Nodya bonfire - great for heating at night, has long burning. There are several ways to lay a Nodya fire. The first method is to take three dead logs 30 cm thick and 2-3 m long. Two logs on one side are trimmed and laid parallel to each other. C external parties they are supported by driven pegs. A fire is made between them using coals or thin twigs. And then the third log is laid on top. The second method is to drive in 4 pegs, and between them lay thick logs one on top of the other. You can alternate dry logs with wet ones, so they will dry out and gradually flare up

Polynesian Bonfire (Pit) - produces a lot of coals, is invisible, does not require a large amount of firewood. To make such a fire, you need to dig a hole, which you can preferably line with stones. If such a fire is lit under the crown of a tree, then it will also not be visible from above. For better access of oxygen to the pit, it is necessary to dig a small trench, so the fire will burn better and smoke less

Bonfire Lattice - two logs are placed at the base, on top of which smaller logs are placed in the form of a lattice. The fire will gradually go down. This type of fire can be used for cooking and as a night fire.

Campfire with reflector - can be used for night heating due to reflected heat. It is especially effective to use such a fire to heat a lean-to hut.

Safe night fire - designed for night heating and preventing burning logs from falling out of the fire. The firewood is stacked tightly so it will burn longer, and two heavy logs are pressed on top so that the firewood does not roll out of the fire.

Bonfire Trench - used in windy weather for cooking. It is necessary to dig a trench of sufficient depth to make a fire in it, in width slightly less than the width of the koteok

The presence of fire is one of the basic conditions for survival in a difficult situation. A fire performs several functions at once. It keeps people warm and helps keep clothes and food supplies dry. Used for cooking. In the end, at night or in inclement weather, it is lighter from a fire and next to a source of heat and light it is psychologically easier to endure difficult natural conditions. Probably, the feeling of comfort from a fire comes from our distant past, when ancient people protected fire and worshiped the fire. There are different types of fires, based on their characteristics of stacking firewood. Let's look at the types of fires.

Bonfire "Shalash"

Bonfire Hut is a simple type of fire. A hut fire is ideal for heating and cooking. It is quite simple to make and its design allows it to be lit fairly quickly. Actually, the name of the fire explains that the firewood for it needs to be laid out at an angle towards the fire source in the form of a hut. You should also understand that the burning rate of such a fire is quite high and you will need a significant amount of fuel. But the “hut” fire allows you to quickly obtain the maximum combustion temperature.

Bonfire "Chamomile"

“Chamomile”, also known as “snowflake, star” refers to light fires. It burns out for a long time, consumes less wood and fuel than a “hut” fire. It is better to make it from pine, oak, beech. The wood is gradually moved towards the center of the fire as it burns and burns. "Chamomile" is lower in height than "hut". It is convenient to cook on it.

Bonfire “House”, also known as “Hut”, “Well”

The “House” fire burns quickly, evenly and smoothly. It is very convenient; the military uses it for field kitchens. The fire is made of logs, which are stacked in pairs in the form of a log house.

Bonfire "Nodya"

The Nodya fire is often used for long night heating. You will need three dry logs with a diameter of about 20 centimeters and a length of 2 meters and fastening pegs. Two logs are stacked next to each other and reinforced with pegs driven in on all sides. The fire is lit in the center, between them. The third log is placed on top. You can alternate dry logs with wet ones, so they will dry out and gradually flare up. This complex species bonfires

Bonfire "Pit"

The “Pit” fire produces a lot of coals, is invisible, and does not require a large amount of firewood. The pit fire is suitable for shish kebab or barbecue. To build a “Polynesian” fire, you need to dig a hole, which is lined inside with bricks or stones. If you want to make such a fire invisible from the air, then light it under the canopy of trees. If you make an additional tunnel under the air duct, the fire will burn better and smoke little.

Bonfire "Pyramid"

This type of fire is used for cooking and as a night fire. The “pyramid” is formed like this: two logs are placed at the base of the fire, on top of which smaller branches and logs are alternately placed in the form of a lattice. The fire will burn and descend from top to bottom.

Bonfire "Reflector"

“Reflector” fire, “single-shift” fire - used for directed heating. It is called so because heating occurs due to reflected heat. It will be relevant for night heating of a single-shift hut.

The fire is “safe”

The fire is “safe”, “night” - so called because its design prevents logs from falling out of the fire, which is important when heating at night and there is no person on duty at the fire. In order to build a safe fire, you should place the firewood very tightly together and press it on top with two heavy logs, which will prevent spontaneous rolling out.

"Trench" fire

If you need to light a fire in very windy weather, then build a “trench” fire. It is perfect for these conditions. A trench is dug deep enough to make a fire in it. The wind will not reach the fire, and you will be able to cook food and stay warm.

Now you know the main types of fires and understand how to use their features in different conditions. All that remains is to decide which combination to use in your situation.