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Hocus pocus for a good fire

There’s nothing such as a good fire to cook your meal or to warm up. Here are a few hints that will teach you how to use it at its full capacity.

  • Before you light a fire
  • Choosing twigs and splint
  • The types of wood that will burn better
  • The types of wood you should avoid
  • You can now light a fire
  • A few additionnal hints

Before you light a fire

service bois

Before you start lighting your fire you should follow this checklist :


1. Am I authorised ?

  • Always check that you are allowed to light a fire in the area and at that time of the year
  • Always ask for clearance to the owner of the property or to the authorities if you are on public grounds.

 

2. Where should I light my fire ?

  • Never light a fire next to bushes, trees or tents. Clear the ground of all leaves and pine needles.

 

3. Is the weather appropriate ?

  • Do not light a fire if it’s too windy.

 

4.Anticipate :

  • You should have at least one jerrycan of water at hand’s reach.
  • Never leave a fire without surveillance.

 

 

Choosing twigs and splint

 

  epicea

The best is to use evergreen twigs (spruce, larch or pine tree) that you will spread either over leaves, pine needles, dried fern or birch bark.


 
pin d'ecosse
 

 

The types of wood that will burn better

The wood you want to use is one that will burn steadily over a long time period releasing a lot of heat. You will find good dry firewood at the foot of the trees. However make sure you don’t use decayed wood : it will not burn well and releases very little heat.
(The pictures on the side of each name will help you to identify the trees.)


  charme

 

 

 

 

  • Hornbeam : Burns for a long time and releases a lot of heat  

 

 

  bouleau

 

 

  • Birch : Heats up well. It will burn even if damp.  

 

  erable

 

 

  • Maple : Burns well and releases good heat  

  frene

 

 

  • Ash tree : One of the best woods to burn. It can be used even when damp and will burn fast.  

 
houx

 

 

  • Holly : Burns well when it’s dried.  

 
hetre 
 

 

  • Beechwood : Burns even better than the ash tree when it is very dry.

 

 
aubepine

 

 

  • Hawthorn : Burns for a long time and releases heat. It can be used even if green.

 

 
chene
 

 

  • Oak : Will burn for a long time but the smoke can irritate the throat.  

 

The types of wood you should avoid

some types of wood do not release a lot of heat and will burn with a lot of smoke, you should avoid them.

 

 
marronnier
 

 

  • Chestnut tree : doesn’t release enough heat.

 

 
chataignier
 

 

  • Sweet chestnut: One of the poorest wood for heating.

 

 
orme
 

 

  • Elm tree: Will not burn well unless it is perfectly dried.

 

 
sureau
 

 

  • Elder: Burns with a lot of smoke and little heat.  

 
peuplier
 

 

  • Poplar :Doesn’t burn well and gives little heat  

 
saule
 

 

  • Willow : Burns with very little heat

 

 
tilleul
 

 

  • Lime tree : Is rather difficult to burn and gives little heat

 

 
if
 

 

  • Yew : Burns well when it is very dry but isn’t suited for cooking purpose.  

 

 

 

You can now light a fire

A few additionnal hints

  • If you use firewood that you picked up on the ground take off the bark : it’s the dampest part.
  • If you do not carry some paper, bark or dried grass you can make some wood chips out of a dead branch (be careful not to hurt yourself with the knife !)

allume feu

  • When you start lighting your fire, if it takes up some time you can accelerate the process by feeding it with very thin twigs that you can find under the trees.
  • In the winter the twigs that you will find under the trees can be green wood and therefore hard to burn.
Auteur :

Anne-Gaëlle Rousset-Rouvière (MC n°47) / All rights reserved AGSE - translated from french by Pierre B.

Publié le 19 August 2008
 
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