Emergencies strike without warning, knowing how to make an emergency fire can quite literally save your life and the lives of your family and friends. This knowledge can also make a terrible situation far less traumatic on everyone involved.
Natural disasters can put you in a nasty situation where basic survival skills can save the day. For example, according to the United States Census Bureau, Hurricane Katrina left more than 400,000 people homeless and more than 2.6 million people lost power for weeks.
What can a fire do for you in the immediate aftermath of an emergency?
1. A fire will keep you warm through the night allowing your body to function properly and sleep which is a very high priority that is not emphasized enough in survival resources also protection from hypothermia
2. A fire will help you purify water from a natural source, river ,stream, pond or spring even a hot water tank in your house or behind the toilet reservoir. Finding water can be simple however securing water by purifying it critical in survival.
3. An initial fire will help you dry out damp or wet leaves, straw, pine cones, sticks, and other natural combustibles. This is crucial for your next fire and its always important to be one fire ahead. This will help you keep your fire going longer if you are dealing with a damp or wet environment.
4. A fire will help you dry out your wet clothes from freezing rain or snow and shoes so you don’t get sick and compromise your health.
5.A fire will help you see at night by generating light and flame as long as you know the right woods to use.
6. A fire will allow you to cook the food you have or help to there are so many plants roots and tubers and game that needs to be cooked thoroughly for safety and edibility.
7. A fire will help you sterilize tools if you have a medical emergency and sanitize any cooking implements needed for you or your group.
And… last but not least…
8. A fire will calm your nerves and psychologically comfort you, your family, and friends. Do NOT underestimate this very important benefit of an emergency fire. The comfort of the fire will help you think more clearly during the entire emergency, making it easier for you to devise plans for getting water, acquiring/preparing food, improvising temporary shelter, dealing with medical emergencies, and devising a plan to get help.
