12 Reasons Why Everyone Needs a Bug Out Bag: Series Post 5 of 12: Fire

Series Introduction

This post series is for anyone who has an interest or curiosity in building their own Bug Out Bag. In the next 3-4 months leading up to the release of my book Build the Perfect Bug Out Bag: Your 72-Hour Disaster Survival Kit, my publisher has authorized me to write a series of 12 posts outlining the 12 Supply Categories needed to build the perfect Bug Out Bag and WHY they are important and necessary. Each post in this 12 Step Series will highlight a separate Bug Out Bag Supply Category.

In my book I elaborate on each of these supply categories in great detail with 100s of detailed photos, instructions, practice exercises, recommended gear and specific supply check-lists. The purpose of this 12 Step Series is to identify, define and explain why each of the 12 Supply Categories I outline in my book are critical elements of a well-thought out Bug Out Bag. I will not get into recommended gear, survival instruction or specific check-lists – I have to save something for the book! This blog series isn’t as much about pitching my book as it is about selling the idea of building a bug out bag. I truly believe that every person should have their own 72 hour disaster survival kit – especially in the uncertain times we live in today. You can almost look at this post series as 12 Reasons Why People Need a Bug Out Bag. It is my hope that this series motivates people to begin building their own kit that may very well serves as their survival life-line one day.

Supply Category # 5: FIRE

This post is going to be short, sweet and to the point. I can’t say enough about the importance of Fire Starting Supplies in a Bug Out Bag. Fire is without a doubt in a survivor’s TOP 5 Survival Priorities.

A Bug Out Bag without a GUARANTEED way to start a fire is incomplete.

Why is FIRE so important to a survivor? First and foremost, fire is a tool that can be used to regulate your core body temperature and stave off hypothermia in cold weather environments. It can dry wet cloths and heat rocks for radiant heat while you sleep. It can provide light in dark conditions and can boost the morale of those who become emotionally exhausted. Fire can also boil and disinfect your #1 Life-Saving Resource – Water. In addition, it can heat and cook your meals. Use can use fire to make tools, containers and harden spear tips. Furthermore, you can signal for rescue with fire.

Countless survivors have been saved by their ability to start a fire. It’s their ability and knowledge that saved them – not the fire.

What is GUARANTEED FIRE?

Guaranteed Fire means that you have the tools and resources in your Bug Out Bag to start and build a fire in virtually any condition you can imagine – wet, cold, damp or windy. Your FIRE KIT should be comprised of 2 components: 1) An Ignition Device and 2)Fire Starting Tinder. I review a variety of ignition tools and fire tinders in my book that I would rely on in a Bug Out Scenario for GUARANTEED FIRE.

Heat + Fuel + Oxygen

Just igniting your fire tinder doesn’t mean you’re ‘out of the woods’. Building a healthy self-sustaining fire requires experience and know-how. From the Fire Platform through several stages and sizes of kindling, preparation and planning are critical. Unfortunately, in many instances when you really NEED a fire, you typically NEED IT RIGHT NOW. Resist the temptation to rush through the important first stages of fire building.

CONCLUSION

Can your Bug Out Fire Kit pass the test? Try starting a fire in ‘not-so-perfect’ conditions to see if you need to reevaluate your choices. As we enter into the famed year of 2012, I’d like to end this post with a quote from the opening chapter of my book:

You’ve heard the phrase “If you build it, they will come.” When discussing Bug Out Bags and disasters, my survivalist motto is “Build it, they are coming.”

If you aren’t already aware, I teach an entire online course about building a Bug Out Bag. Watch the FREE PREVIEWS by clicking this link or the image below: https://www.outdoorcore.com/courses/build-the-perfect-bug-out-bag