Fire Making

Purpose

Fire Making teaches participants to build and light a fire using traditional techniques and natural materials. It is one of the most primal team experiences available, fostering patience, resourcefulness, focus, and a deep sense of accomplishment. Working around fire creates a unique social atmosphere that encourages conversation and connection.

At a glance

• Group size: 4–20 participants (teams of 3–5)
• Duration: 45 minutes
• Difficulty: Intermediate
• Facilitation style: Instructional with hands-on practice
• Setting: Outdoors; designated fire area with safety provisions

How to run

1. Safety and ethics brief (5 min): Fire safety rules, burn perimeter, extinguishing protocols. Respect for fire, nature, and leave-no-trace principles.
2. Instruction (10 min): Demonstrate fire triangle (fuel, heat, oxygen), tinder preparation, kindling stacking (teepee, log cabin, lean-to), and ignition methods (matches, ferro rod, bow drill for advanced).
3. Material gathering (5 min): Teams collect natural tinder, kindling, and fuel wood from the area (or use pre-provided materials).
4. Fire building (20 min): Teams build and attempt to light their fires. The goal: a self-sustaining fire that can boil a cup of water.
5. Debrief and extinguish (5 min): Celebrate successes. Discuss: What required the most patience? How did you work together? Fully extinguish all fires.

Materials needed

• Designated fire pits or fire pans
• Ignition sources (matches, fire strikers, or ferro rods)
• Natural tinder and kindling (or pre-provided if the area is sensitive)
• Water buckets for extinguishing
• Fire blanket and first aid kit

Pitfalls & common mistakes

• No fire safety plan: Have water, fire blanket, and clear boundaries BEFORE starting.
• Wet materials: If recent rain, pre-dry tinder or provide dry starter materials.
• Skipping instruction: Without understanding the fire triangle, teams will fail and become frustrated.
• Not extinguishing properly: Every fire must be fully drowned, stirred, and checked before leaving.

Inclusion & accessibility

• Seated participation works well — fire building is often done kneeling or sitting.
• Ensure burn-risk participants (those with sensation loss or coordination challenges) have appropriate support.
• Provide alternatives for those with fire phobia — they can prepare materials while others light.

Variations

• Primitive Fire Making: Bow drill or hand drill only. Extremely challenging and rewarding.
• Competitive Fire Making: First team to boil water wins.
• Fire and Cook: Combine with wilderness cooking — build a fire and cook a simple meal.

When NOT to use this

• During fire bans or high fire-danger conditions.
• Without proper fire containment (fire pits, pans, or cleared areas).
• In areas where fires are prohibited.
• Without extinguishing equipment immediately at hand.

Source & further reading

• Kochanski, M. (1987). Bushcraft. Lone Pine Publishing.
• Mears, R. (2003). Essential Bushcraft. Hodder and Stoughton.