Topic: Building a Fire in the rain

[mtbkski]

I did this a while ago. But since I'm getting active on this site again, I decided to share this with you all.

I have a small B.O.B. that basically is my hiking pack. One day I decided to build a fire to see if I could with what I had. Everything went well. I had a fire in a short amount of time.

Then I wondered about doing the same thing if I was caught in the rain. So, in the middle of a downpour. And let me tell you what, it was pouring. I put on my gortex and grabbed the stuff I carry in my pack only and headed out to build a fire.

First lesson learned. Even small samplings don't like to burn once they are good and soaked. The small stuff I would normally use was having a hard time catching since it was so wet.
I have now added a small handsize bundle of dried kindling to my pack to help get the fire started.

Second Lesson. When it rains hard, the wind is usually whopping too.
I found that I needed to really dig a deeper bit to get the fire down in it. I also ended up using a large rock as a windblock.

Third Lesson. Carry a couple forms of fire starters.
My first lighter got wet. Then the msecond one did. Matches were my last resort and they were a real hassle to keep lit in the wind.

Forth Lesson. Carry more firestarter than you think you will need.
I carry drier lint covered in vaseline. I ended up using way more than I expected since the wood was wet and didn't want to lite, the wind was howling and blew out my fire more than once..

I did finally get my fire started. And that was gratifyng. But it took me a long time. To long . So, if you have never tried to build a fire in crappy weather. Make sure you head outside during the next big rainstorm and see what you learn.

[azredhawk44]

I was backpacking in the Olympic Mountains, back in college.  Around 1998 or so.

For those that don't know, the Olympics are the world's only non-tropical rain forest.  300+ inches of rain a year.  It rains there EVERY DAY.

I borrowed a bunch of gear from a college buddy, and it turns out that the camp stove had no fuel left in it.  That sucked.  Then the rain opened up.

I went to bed rather than messing with anything.  Had a river running through and under my tent.  Shivered and froze all night.  Woke up and decided to try and cook something.  All the tinder I could find was soaked.

To get a fire going:

I looked for a tree that grew crooked.  Such a tree has a dry side and a wet side in a rainstorm.  From the dry side, I took any sheltered twigs/leaves, as well as some bark shavings.  Even when wet, pine needles contain pitch and are a great fire accelerant.  Small twigs and branches will dry out in such an environment, but large wood will not unless sheltered for several days and allowed to dry.

Look for bored-out trunks that small animals like to live in.  Look for deadfalls that provide similar shelter.  Take the wood detritus in those areas, and put scavenged wet firewood in there so it can dry out for a day or two.  It doesn't help "right now," but it comes in handy if you're moving intermittently, then staying for a couple days... or if you're base-camping.

[NoGoyGunBoy]

For those that don't know, the Olympics are the world's only non-tropical rain forest.  300+ inches of rain a year.  It rains there EVERY DAY.

Alaska's Tongass National Forest is, too, though the Olympics were once its southern border.   

[jackoneil]

If the weather is wet, use a road flare under a 2"-3" Diameter log to get the fire going.   

[mtbkski]

I don't carry a road flare in my B.O.B. I think that the small handful of dry kindling should solve my problem. And it isn't as heavy as a road flare. I would also be concerned with the amount of light that a flare would put out. If I'm on the run, I sure don't want to light up the area really good. I just want a small fire to keep me warm and maybe heat some food.

I considered myself pretty "outdoorsy". Cub Scout, Boy Scout, Hunter, Backpacker, Marine Corps. So, I have spent a lot of time out in the woods fending for myself.  And was really surprised when I finally went out in a downpour and tried to build a fire. It was an eye opener.  If you haven't done it. Don't ASSUME that you can. Get out in the next downpour and do it. Better to learn your mistakes now instead of when it is for real.

[Bud Wiser]

Very good post!   It's always good to practice your bushcraft in crappy weather before you find yourself in an emergency.  Glad you posted it.

Heck we all should be able to start fire in our sleep during fair weather conditions.  But if you haven't practiced it or even tried it in the middle of a down pour or in sub-freezing conditions you may be hurting when a real emergency strikes.

If you've never read the famous Jack London short story "To Build A Fire" I suggest everyone read it.  It was written in 1902 and it is a riveting read.  It's one of those stories that transcends time and is just as important today as it was in 1902.  I first read it in Junior High School about 35 years ago.  It was on our required reading list and the lessons of this story sticks with me to this day.  It's a story about a man and his dog who fell through a weak spot in the ice in minus fifty degree weather while traveling alone in the Klondike and needed to build a fire to save his life.

I found the story available online so you can read it here http://www.jacklondons.net/buildafire.html

If you haven't read it in a while, please re-read it.  If you've never read it, I urge you to so.  It's a riveting story of just how important fire is in a survival situation.  Once you read it, you'll remember it for the rest of your life and be glad you experienced such a wonderful story written by one of the worlds greatest outdoor adventure writers.

Because of this story, plus my training in wilderness survival, my main "fire kit" carries no less than 4 independent methods of starting fire and 4 different types of tinder.  Plus I carry methods of starting fire on my EDC gear, my car key chain, and a couple methods just hanging off my pack and in various other kits.