Fire and rain

G'day L

peripatew said:
....SO:
What are ways to protect the fire from rain, when rain starts after your fire is going? (he was careful to keep some tinder, kindling, and wood dry in his tent)
Click to expand...

Bark shingles work well (just remember to turn them to stop the underside from burning through :D )

Barkshingles.jpg




BTW, it's always a good idea to have a store of dried tinder & kindling available (righthand side of pic :thumbup: )

Shavingthechoppingboardside.jpg




Kind regards
Mick
 
I have stacked wood, pig pen style ( Log cabin) over a hot bed of coals, high enough above the bed so it won't char or ignite then stack full layers (floors if you will) over the top. It dries the wood a bit ( even if the top is wet with rain) and protects the fire base from direct rain. Burning a layer rocks in the fire hungi style will also help retain heat.
I have strung a poncho between two trees to get the fire started and established. And built a roofed frame over a fire to try and keep it going. Both of those were in primary rainforest.
One of the trad Australian Aboriginal methods of transporting fire is using a hollow hardwood branch loosely pack one end with twigs ( not airtight) up to half way along then a hand full of coals in the other end facing the direction your walking. Holding it horizontally in your hand the swinging motion of your arms fans the coals. Periodically check the coals and give it a bit of a blow if you need to you, will also need to repack the twigs if it is an extended walk.
Carl
 
Also, once a fire is well established it takes a LOT of rain to put it out.

I remember once when I was a kid a cookout got hit with a sudden torrential rain.
One of those rains where there are so many raindrops in the air it cuts visibility like a fog.
Our firepit put out a steady plume of steam for several HOURS.

Even a fairly small camp fire is quite resistant to a light rain.
If you can arrange even partial cover, much of the time you should be ok I think.
 
Doc - Thanks for the reminder. I have not burned a cattail like that for many years and had forgotten about it. It was one of the things we did as pyro-minded teenagers on campouts.
 
Wow! What a necropost. I thought for a minute that there were new Survivorman episodes.
 
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