This is your the most important video so far Blackie. Forests fires are much more frequent than survival situations. I have been asking for years on many big outdoor channel for fire safety videos. No responses
Bravo, Bravo, Bravo...! This is the (FIRST) and only (Professional) video where safety for self, others, the flora and fauna, is brought to the forefront. Your direct presentation really brings the message home. Once again, Bravo, Bravo, Bravo...!
At least here in Australia, people are overly scared of fire. I think people are generally too worried about embers in the wind and not careful about root systems and the surface they're on. Unless you're throwing plastic into the fire, which can get carried up and away and burn longer and hotter, it's unlikely an ember in the wind alone can do much. Go try to light a leaf on fire with a ferro rod and see how far you get. Not extinguishing a fire properly, not clearing the area (up down and around) is much more important. This was a great video Blackie, well done mate. Glad to see you getting some acknowledgement from Mr Canterbury too!
This was a very badly needed video. I've been waiting for someone to talk about fire safety and "root fire" per say...using a 3 or 4 forked limb cut down works well in dry conditions for raking away ground cover for those of us that don't dance 😉 Root fire and flying embers are my biggest concerns. Nobody talks enough about fire safety or first aid. I've researched fire proof blankets to lay in a fire pit/hole to cover with about 3 inches of loose dirt before adding the fire nest and woodpile. THANKS Blackie! 🙂
Excellent advice. Too many so-called experts/reviewers talk about their fave wood-burning stoves but NEVER mention SAFETY nor the cost of their kit. Another seemingly common trait is for people to complain about millitary cook kits being hard to adjust for temperature. Those mil kits were designed to HEAT prepared food, NOT do any real cooking since troops in the field have no time (nor supplies) for "fancy cooking" !! Example: M40 not having a simmer-ring.
Hi Blackie, greeting from Australia 🇦🇺, thank you for your time to make these videos Another one is people lighting too close to trees, there roots can catch fire, We have to make a 3 metre circle, that is if we are allowed to make a fire.
14 people died, 190 people injured, 17,900 acres burned, 2400 buildings affected, over $2 billion in damages, 2 juveniles charged with aggravated arson in connection to the Great Smoky Mountains wildfires which began in late November 2016. Thanks for this extremely important lesson Blackie!
Blackie, When i was young and was in boy scouts they told us that we needed to clear a 10 ft by 10 fr area of all leaves,sticks,pine needles ect.before building a fire and that has always worked for me and my wife and we are both in our late 50 s now.
Great advise for sure. This is one good reason to carry like a slow stove or other wood burning device's. Then make sure the coals and ashes are cool and not hot. People don't think about underlay or roots catching and spreading fire.
Great discussion. Thanks for the reminders. 20 years in a rescue profession I have to say poor preparation or failing to prepare are the root cause of most bad situations
Very relevant to my area. The east coast of Australia, where we have a long history of fires burning out of control, huge areas destroyed, and lives and property lost.
I was made aware of this when i was a scout and as such have never lit an open fire in any sort of woodland. Where i go in the uk last autumn was so dry i was nervous using a gas stove. Flameless ration heaters gave me a warm lunch and thermos flasks a hot beverage.
Thank you Blackie, I learned some important things from this. I try to be very careful with fire. I'm a nervous Nelly but you taught me some extra things. Thank you so much.
Good discussion! As someone who spends a lot of time in the high dry Sierras, I have 2 deeply held beliefs. (1) Get over your notions that you need a fire to enjoy the wilderness. If it’s not frozen or wet you do not. (2) Those little butane backpacking stoves is usually all you need, and when it’s out, it’s out.
This is an important lesson that should be taught to anyone having access to a lighter. I throw a bit of water on the center of the dead fire before leaving; If you hear anything other than water falling on dirt, you need to douse it.
Really great advise. When I lived in the south west, the shovel in my Jeep was used more often to put out a campfire left smoking than digging out my vehicle. I saw a woman throw out a ciggerette on an interstate while firefighters were trying to stop a wild fire. I use to think those kind of people don't care but it's more of they don't think the about the outcome. They are use to doing it so they do it. They are simple math people when life is a complex equation.
The was the best on fire safety I've seen in a long time. You did a great presentation and pounding it into ones head about this. I would like to add something my local FD has been seeing in backyard fires. People are getting Rocket stoves/Kelly Kettles/Fire pits/others and placing them on the ground without clearing it. FD comes later to a grass, shrub, house or forest fire. These stoves generate more heat under them than the standard fire and catch roots on fire under them even an inch deep at times depending on the length of time the fire has been in place. Our local FD put out a reminder to soak the place you are going to use your firepit/stove/other before using it. They also recommend a block or blocks be placed under them in backyards. You can't just set these things down and start a fire in them. I don't think people realize this from what a lot of bushcrafters/survivalists/sellers are showing. I've seen the burn areas on picnic tables and saw one catch with a small wood burning stove on it with a metal bottom. I've seen ground smolder outside a building where someone tested a stove with a metal pan/bottom as an ash catch. Using a thin rock or making certain the top is cleared isn't enough for these types of fire devices if using them long. This goes double for those fancy steel fire pits too. It is the very reason you see grills made with legs above the ground because they burn a long time. I use a clay pot saucer or a silicon piece that fits the base. Sometimes I've used both. I don't leave any chance. I still soak the place with any extra water, if I can or if it hasn't rained good the day before. Just my views and my local FD's views on these. They might be fire ban safe with a good spark arrestor but the ground will burn. Sorry for the length. Take Care and Stay Safe, Blackie and friends.
Great warning Blackie. So few people know how to use fire safely, because they have no property or trees to lose. Or so they think. Nobody wants to be responsible for a fire that takes out 1500 acres of state forest either. Also this reminds me that I wish my state, PA , would do more to make fire breaks on our state forest lands. In my area, it's becoming a ripe tinder box for one bad mistake. And it's in the scrub pine phase...danger..
Hello Blackie- I think you nailed all the important stuff. The problem with people these days is they are always in a rush, and this includes those not so camp savy folk. The extra time it takes to make sure that fire is out cant be stressed enough. Good demonstration with the fatwood. As always, thanks for another video and be careful, them snakes are venturing out-
I have all ways done a ten foot circle . I learned the cold out method when I was 6 . My dad taught us to cover the coals from the fire with dirt to prevent flare ups while sleeping . I often just use a camp stove in the summer and spring to cook on
Good stuff my friend! My Scoutmaster Mr. Willie J. LeBlanc was a Forester for International Paper Company. We had fire safety/fire prevention drilled into us at every opportunity, thanks for the reminder! Regards and best, Pink.
Over the years i have found unattended fires, smoldering fires, and on one occasion a fire underground about 15 feet in diameter ... the ground was smoking, i had no water so had to dig down and stamp it out, must have taken a couple of hours to ensure it was out. A hazard where i go is because it was a military aerial bombing range for decades, so i have to ensure there are no unexploded bombs just under the surface, or things might get very interesting.
Of all the Bushcraft videos I have seen you are the first that goes in depth on fire safety, planning, and checking. Some people may say if its that dry don't start a fire but it can be damp on top and you dig down to where its dry and start your fire and you left roots in the hole. Roots can smolder and burn just like the under brush of pine needles or leaves. So it can be damp and you can start a fire if you don't clear away the roots properly or extinguish the fire properly. Good video, good tips!
Great and timely advice Blackie. I live in Alberta Canada and my province is currently dealing with massive out of control wildfires. Can’t afford to have more.
Good information young feller. That is a concern of mine when I watch some other bushcraft videos. It's my belief they don't clear enough area around the fire. My mother was badly burned when she was six because of that very reason.
This is timely, and everyone needs to be aware of the possibility of wildfire. There was an incident a couple months ago where an underequipt hiker got into trouble, lit a couple of signal fires... which got out of control - and the Federal Court charged him - criminally and financially !
Blackie I like what you said in this video, but I want to extend it to other things. As that fire safety applies to things like Welding, Gender Reveal party's that involve fire works as well. I say that as I have seen an entire town in Central Texas burnt to the ground, because someone failed to practice fire safety while welding. And I have seen an entire town that had to be moved because of an underground coal fire, as well as all those fires in California that got started because of things like Gender Reveal party's where fire safety was neglected. A million acres of land, untold number of houses and towns burnt to the town over a Gender Reveal party gone wrong is not something you want to happen while camping.
Not that it's a big deal, but you can also close the SAK saw on a small stick for scraping rods and sticks. In this way there is no need to worry about the saw blade closing on you at all.
Before you start a fire, outside of a life or death emergency, you have to make sure you can put it out if it gets out of control. Then you will be able to make sure it is out and drowned when you move on.
One problem is folks want a fire bigger than they need, Folks don't need a bonfire in the warmer months. I read somewhere, Native Americans built small fires and sat close, while the Pilgrims built huge fires and sat back near the cold. Not sure if its true but it makes sense.
Just seen an old (7years) video by british guy. He put a Trangia burner half-buried in dead leaves [all around the area]. He then put 3 wood stakes around the burner (touching it) and lit. The breeze clearly sent flames around one of the stakes. Imagine when he placed a pot on top and sent more flames to the side! And this guy had the nerve to call himself a "Bushcrafter" !!! Also, I have too often seen picknic tables in private campgrounds and gov't parks that were scorched /burned on top by careless "idiots".
A couple of a-holes let their fire get away from them during a burn-ban and burnt hundreds of acres of the National Forest land where I like to camp. The authorities found evidence that led them to Walmart footage in a nearby city where they bought some gear but no arrests were ever made. Actions should have consequences.
Basic, not advanced techniques. Calls for no fire if it is "too dry" means not enough thinking. It is like calling for "no driving" if there is any chance of precipitation. Old trick, put a pair of crossed sticks over one inch in diameter where your fire was, will save you from accusations.
I am Wood Badge trained (Bear Patrol) 12 year former BSA leader The Old School rule says no matter what ALWAYS, ALWAYS,ALWAYS drowned your campfire area after with water TWICE stirring once then water stir again then water again then cover with dirt ... We always used the dish water from cleaning the breakfast dishes while breaking camp we also poured the leftovers from the leaders breakfast coffee pot on there too.. was not an option it was a REQUIREMENT....Duff and small shallow tree roots in the forest floor can go very deep sometimes and as you correctly pointed out can smolder for days its always better to err on the side of caution.
This is your the most important video so far Blackie. Forests fires are much more frequent than survival situations. I have been asking for years on many big outdoor channel for fire safety videos. No responses
Excellent information have shared with youth groups.
Bravo, Bravo, Bravo...! This is the (FIRST) and only (Professional) video where safety for self, others, the flora and fauna, is brought to the forefront. Your direct presentation really brings the message home. Once again, Bravo, Bravo, Bravo...!
At least here in Australia, people are overly scared of fire. I think people are generally too worried about embers in the wind and not careful about root systems and the surface they're on. Unless you're throwing plastic into the fire, which can get carried up and away and burn longer and hotter, it's unlikely an ember in the wind alone can do much. Go try to light a leaf on fire with a ferro rod and see how far you get. Not extinguishing a fire properly, not clearing the area (up down and around) is much more important. This was a great video Blackie, well done mate. Glad to see you getting some acknowledgement from Mr Canterbury too!
Blackie, Great Video and Outstanding Information on fire safety and care . Thanks for sharing this information. Tim L.
This was a very badly needed video. I've been waiting for someone to talk about fire safety and "root fire" per say...using a 3 or 4 forked limb cut down works well in dry conditions for raking away ground cover for those of us that don't dance 😉 Root fire and flying embers are my biggest concerns. Nobody talks enough about fire safety or first aid. I've researched fire proof blankets to lay in a fire pit/hole to cover with about 3 inches of loose dirt before adding the fire nest and woodpile. THANKS Blackie! 🙂
Great Boy Scout training on fires , old school. Thanks Blackie.
Excellent advice. Too many so-called experts/reviewers talk about their fave wood-burning stoves but NEVER mention SAFETY nor the cost of their kit.
Another seemingly common trait is for people to complain about millitary cook kits being hard to adjust for temperature. Those mil kits were designed to HEAT prepared food, NOT do any real cooking since troops in the field have no time (nor supplies) for "fancy cooking" !! Example: M40 not having a simmer-ring.
Hi Blackie greetings from Australia, this video should be compulsory for all ages especially for young children, thank you for sharing it.
Great tips, Thanks Blackie. You're right. I don't recall seeing many videos where they mention fire safety.👍
Fantastic knowledge 🇨🇦
To many people have a difficult time understanding true responsibility. Glad you made this video so people can understand fire safety.
Responsibility and Self-Discipline! The apparent lack of these has been the cause of MUCH suffering around the world!
Hi Blackie, greeting from Australia 🇦🇺, thank you for your time to make these videos Another one is people lighting too close to trees, there roots can catch fire, We have to make a 3 metre circle, that is if we are allowed to make a fire.
Awesome video 👍
14 people died, 190 people injured, 17,900 acres burned, 2400 buildings affected, over $2 billion in damages, 2 juveniles charged with aggravated arson in connection to the Great Smoky Mountains wildfires which began in late November 2016. Thanks for this extremely important lesson Blackie!
Blackie, When i was young and was in boy scouts they told us that we needed to clear a 10 ft by 10 fr area of all leaves,sticks,pine needles ect.before building a fire and that has always worked for me and my wife and we are both in our late 50 s now.
Home Depot sells 5 lb boxes of fatwood for like $12. Perfectly easy way to always have a piece with you on a hiking, canoe, camping trip!!
Good informational video Blackie , thanks for sharing , God bless !
my pleasure
Excellent tips, and so important!
Oooo good trick 🤓
thanks brother
Great advise for sure. This is one good reason to carry like a slow stove or other wood burning device's. Then make sure the coals and ashes are cool and not hot. People don't think about underlay or roots catching and spreading fire.
true mosy of the accidental fires are from roots or deep compressed leaf beds that slowly smolder
Great discussion. Thanks for the reminders. 20 years in a rescue profession I have to say poor preparation or failing to prepare are the root cause of most bad situations
sad but true
Very relevant to my area. The east coast of Australia, where we have a long history of fires burning out of control, huge areas destroyed, and lives and property lost.
I was made aware of this when i was a scout and as such have never lit an open fire in any sort of woodland. Where i go in the uk last autumn was so dry i was nervous using a gas stove. Flameless ration heaters gave me a warm lunch and thermos flasks a hot beverage.
Thank you Blackie, I learned some important things from this. I try to be very careful with fire. I'm a nervous Nelly but you taught me some extra things. Thank you so much.
Good content Blackie, thank you.
Thanks Blackie. Good advice.
glad to do it
Good discussion! As someone who spends a lot of time in the high dry Sierras, I have 2 deeply held beliefs. (1) Get over your notions that you need a fire to enjoy the wilderness. If it’s not frozen or wet you do not. (2) Those little butane backpacking stoves is usually all you need, and when it’s out, it’s out.
Good tips Blacie😊 I here ya. I don’t like to start fires when conditions aren’t ideal 😊
i often carry food that can be eaten cold just for times like this
Good video. God bless. From Glenn CATT in Massachusetts.
thanks for watching
This is an important lesson that should be taught to anyone having access to a lighter.
I throw a bit of water on the center of the dead fire before leaving; If you hear anything other than water falling on dirt, you need to douse it.
Hood job too many people know how to make fire but not responsibly . Have fun stay safe.
Really great advise. When I lived in the south west, the shovel in my Jeep was used more often to put out a campfire left smoking than digging out my vehicle. I saw a woman throw out a ciggerette on an interstate while firefighters were trying to stop a wild fire. I use to think those kind of people don't care but it's more of they don't think the about the outcome. They are use to doing it so they do it. They are simple math people when life is a complex equation.
i have to agree with you on that
Not thinking about outcome IS THE SAME AS NOT CARING !!
Great presentation
thank you
The was the best on fire safety I've seen in a long time. You did a great presentation and pounding it into ones head about this.
I would like to add something my local FD has been seeing in backyard fires. People are getting Rocket stoves/Kelly Kettles/Fire pits/others and placing them on the ground without clearing it. FD comes later to a grass, shrub, house or forest fire. These stoves generate more heat under them than the standard fire and catch roots on fire under them even an inch deep at times depending on the length of time the fire has been in place. Our local FD put out a reminder to soak the place you are going to use your firepit/stove/other before using it. They also recommend a block or blocks be placed under them in backyards. You can't just set these things down and start a fire in them. I don't think people realize this from what a lot of bushcrafters/survivalists/sellers are showing. I've seen the burn areas on picnic tables and saw one catch with a small wood burning stove on it with a metal bottom. I've seen ground smolder outside a building where someone tested a stove with a metal pan/bottom as an ash catch. Using a thin rock or making certain the top is cleared isn't enough for these types of fire devices if using them long. This goes double for those fancy steel fire pits too. It is the very reason you see grills made with legs above the ground because they burn a long time.
I use a clay pot saucer or a silicon piece that fits the base. Sometimes I've used both. I don't leave any chance. I still soak the place with any extra water, if I can or if it hasn't rained good the day before.
Just my views and my local FD's views on these. They might be fire ban safe with a good spark arrestor but the ground will burn. Sorry for the length.
Take Care and Stay Safe, Blackie and friends.
good comment thanks for the feedback
Great warning Blackie. So few people know how to use fire safely, because they have no property or trees to lose. Or so they think.
Nobody wants to be responsible for a fire that takes out 1500 acres of state forest either. Also this reminds me that I wish my state, PA , would do more to make fire breaks on our state forest lands. In my area, it's becoming a ripe tinder box for one bad mistake. And it's in the scrub pine phase...danger..
Excellent advice blackie!
thanks
Hello Blackie- I think you nailed all the important stuff. The problem with people these days is they are always in a rush, and this includes those not so camp savy folk. The extra time it takes to make sure that fire is out cant be stressed enough. Good demonstration with the fatwood. As always, thanks for another video and be careful, them snakes are venturing out-
I have all ways done a ten foot circle . I learned the cold out method when I was 6 . My dad taught us to cover the coals from the fire with dirt to prevent flare ups while sleeping . I often just use a camp stove in the summer and spring to cook on
Great video Blackie 🇺🇸 🇳🇿
thank you for watching
When I was about 11-12 yrs old and in the Boy Scouts we were taught to clear an area 10ft around our camp fire .
Good stuff my friend! My Scoutmaster Mr. Willie J. LeBlanc was a Forester for International Paper Company. We had fire safety/fire prevention drilled into us at every opportunity, thanks for the reminder! Regards and best, Pink.
I believe they give credit to Ben Franklin. It says take care of the little things and the big things that take care of themselves.
Over the years i have found unattended fires, smoldering fires, and on one occasion a fire underground about 15 feet in diameter ... the ground was smoking, i had no water so had to dig down and stamp it out, must have taken a couple of hours to ensure it was out.
A hazard where i go is because it was a military aerial bombing range for decades, so i have to ensure there are no unexploded bombs just under the surface, or things might get very interesting.
Great tips brother! Fire safety is often overlooked!
i agree everyone is in a hurry to get the fire going..few think of what is going to happen after
Of all the Bushcraft videos I have seen you are the first that goes in depth on fire safety, planning, and checking. Some people may say if its that dry don't start a fire but it can be damp on top and you dig down to where its dry and start your fire and you left roots in the hole. Roots can smolder and burn just like the under brush of pine needles or leaves. So it can be damp and you can start a fire if you don't clear away the roots properly or extinguish the fire properly. Good video, good tips!
thanks for watching
If it's that dry, resist the urge to light a fire.
agreed
I tried to write the obvious answer two times. I'll likely look bad if I leave it here. 😁
🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥💧💧💧💧💧💧💧💧
thanks for watching
Great and timely advice Blackie. I live in Alberta Canada and my province is currently dealing with massive out of control wildfires. Can’t afford to have more.
Alberta, B.C., Atlantic provinces !! When did you ever see a 'wood-stove' reviewer even mention fire safety ?
I can think of a UA-camr that doesn't clear back nothing and I've noticed it more than once .
Watch for roots in a Dakota fire hole. Even small roots can smolder for days under ground and start a forrest fire.
Good information young feller. That is a concern of mine when I watch some other bushcraft videos. It's my belief they don't clear enough area around the fire. My mother was badly burned when she was six because of that very reason.
This is timely, and everyone needs to be aware of the possibility of wildfire. There was an incident a couple months ago where an underequipt hiker got into trouble, lit a couple of signal fires... which got out of control - and the Federal Court charged him - criminally and financially !
yes they do tend to do that
Blackie I like what you said in this video, but I want to extend it to other things. As that fire safety applies to things like Welding, Gender Reveal party's that involve fire works as well. I say that as I have seen an entire town in Central Texas burnt to the ground, because someone failed to practice fire safety while welding. And I have seen an entire town that had to be moved because of an underground coal fire, as well as all those fires in California that got started because of things like Gender Reveal party's where fire safety was neglected. A million acres of land, untold number of houses and towns burnt to the town over a Gender Reveal party gone wrong is not something you want to happen while camping.
Not that it's a big deal, but you can also close the SAK saw on a small stick for scraping rods and sticks. In this way there is no need to worry about the saw blade closing on you at all.
good point
Before you start a fire, outside of a life or death emergency, you have to make sure you can put it out if it gets out of control. Then you will be able to make sure it is out and drowned when you move on.
One problem is folks want a fire bigger than they need, Folks don't need a bonfire in the warmer months. I read somewhere, Native Americans built small fires and sat close, while the Pilgrims built huge fires and sat back near the cold. Not sure if its true but it makes sense.
Lot of people don’t even think about what fire can and will do.
Just seen an old (7years) video by british guy. He put a Trangia burner half-buried in dead leaves [all around the area]. He then put 3 wood stakes around the burner (touching it) and lit. The breeze clearly sent flames around one of the stakes. Imagine when he placed a pot on top and sent more flames to the side! And this guy had the nerve to call himself a "Bushcrafter" !!!
Also, I have too often seen picknic tables in private campgrounds and gov't parks that were scorched /burned on top by careless "idiots".
Have you ever seen a bigfoot in the woods when you was Camping
A couple of a-holes let their fire get away from them during a burn-ban and burnt hundreds of acres of the National Forest land where I like to camp. The authorities found evidence that led them to Walmart footage in a nearby city where they bought some gear but no arrests were ever made. Actions should have consequences.
bud cant give you 2 or more thumbs up or i would tonight for this video
thank you very much
Basic, not advanced techniques.
Calls for no fire if it is "too dry" means not enough thinking. It is like calling for "no driving" if there is any chance of precipitation.
Old trick, put a pair of crossed sticks over one inch in diameter where your fire was, will save you from accusations.
I am Wood Badge trained (Bear Patrol) 12 year former BSA leader The Old School rule says no matter what ALWAYS, ALWAYS,ALWAYS drowned your campfire area after with water TWICE stirring once then water stir again then water again then cover with dirt ... We always used the dish water from cleaning the breakfast dishes while breaking camp we also poured the leftovers from the leaders breakfast coffee pot on there too.. was not an option it was a REQUIREMENT....Duff and small shallow tree roots in the forest floor can go very deep sometimes and as you correctly pointed out can smolder for days its always better to err on the side of caution.
Great advice, Blackie!