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W eve all been there before: you come off a long day of travelling through the bush; be it by car or on foot, and all you want to do is secure a comfortable seat around a relaxing campfire. Instead, youre digging for some old newspaper, paper towels or anything remotely combustible in your gear to get the kindling crackling.

A fire is arguably the most important aspect of a good bush camp. It offers physical and psychological warmth, light, protection, a place to cook food, boil water and a central meeting place to have a yarn about the days events. However, the problem tends to be that the more you need it, the less likely Mother Nature is to give it up. If conditions are windy, damp or cold you probably want that fire burning as soon as possible. Unfortunately, in these conditions a roaring campfire can soon become a chore rather than a quick throw-away task. The trick is in the firelighters!

Paper, while perfectly sufficient if kindling is abundant and dry, is not the ideal material to light a fire in the wet. Crushing the paper is the obvious first step as it reduces the availability of oxygen and the surface area of paper to extend the burn time giving the kindling a better chance to ignite. However, more often than not, in less than ideal conditions all youll be left with is a pile of paper ash and a steaming pile of twigs.

Firelighters offer an extended burn time to dry out kindling sufficiently for it to burn, but commercial versions are bulky, expensive and tend to be a little on the nose once open.

For a very little cost and minimal effort its easy to make your own lightweight and effective firelighters that will guarantee to get those stubborn, soggy sticks burning. By pairing these firelighters with some simple fire preparation therell be little to stand between you and a welcoming campfire despite dismal conditions.

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Fire PreParation in damP conditionsEven with a set of homemade firelighters its still a challenge to get a fire established if the area has received recent substantial rain, so here are a few simple tips.

Avoid collecting any kindling material that is sitting on the ground. The moisture in the ground prevents the wood from drying out and, even if twigs appear dry on the surface, they can still be sodden on the inside, especially if there has recently been a short burst of sunlight. If possible, also avoid collecting kindling in the morning as the wood will be damp if there has been heavy dew.

Look for dead branches or trees that are suspended in the air as twigs that are in a near vertical position will shed water more efficiently than horizontal ones. Also, branches that are sheltered, be it by a rock formation or larger tree, should prove to be a good source.

Its best to gather twigs that are no more than a match stick thick and snap cleanly when bent. A good rule of thumb to determine if a piece of kindling is suitable is to bend it. If it bends past ninety degrees without snapping clean through, then its best to look for dryer fuel.

If the weather looks like its setting in, its worthwhile to think ahead and take the opportunity to collect some kindling during the day. Place the kindling out of the rain at the top of your pack or inside a vehicle, but avoid the temptation to seal it inside a non-breathable bag as this actually prevents moisture from evaporating. A small piece of string or an elastic band is handy to stow a bundle of sticks during the day.

Words: Blake muir

aBout the author

Blake muir has enjoyed camping all his life. his passion for bushcraft originated from a fascination with the ingenuity of australias indigenous people and how the bush can provide the means to survive.

in 2011, he founded Bushcraftoz, an online community for likeminded people to share their knowledge of bushcraft. the site has grown to more than 1000 members and receives thousands of visits each month. Visit www.bushcraftoz.com

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petroleum Jelly Cotton BallsThese are a favourite among hikers as they are effective, cheap and lightweight. Take a cotton ball and smear it through some petroleum jelly making sure to coat all sides of the cotton ball. Plain cotton makeup removal wipes also work well and offer longer burn times than cotton balls. Store these in a ziplock bag to keep them dry and your equipment clean.

Light directly from a match or lighter. Alternatively, tear them open to expose the dry cotton inside, which will ignite instantly from one strike of a firesteel rod and burn for several minutes.

Fire DustA great use for excess sawdust or wood chips from the shed is to mix them with kerosene. Slowly add kerosene until it is totally absorbed but not dripping wet. Sawdust alone will burn quite fast so including a good mix of small wood chips will give a more sustained burn time.

A small handful in the fireplace will allow plenty of time for the kindling to catch alight. Store the fire dust in a ziplock bag or a small airtight plastic container to keep the smell out of your kit.

Cardboard CandlesA little more effort to prepare, but these offer a longer burn time and are also waterproof. Start by stripping the corrugated centre from a piece of cardboard by peeling away the smooth surface from either side and cutting it into strips of your desired size; 3 cm wide by 10 cm long seems to be ideal. Roll the cardboard strip up and tie it with a piece of string, leaving a small length for dipping.

Next, melt down some paraffin wax from some cheap candles, such as tea lights. (A discarded Milo tin or similar is ideal for melting wax.) Hold the string and dip the cardboard rolls into the melted wax allowing them to soak in for a minute, then set aside to dry. When youre finished, allow the remaining wax to harden, replace the lid and store, the wax can be re-melted indefinitely.

These firelighters will light from a match or candle and can withstand a reasonable downpour once the flames are established.

pine resinIf youve run out of firelighters thankfully Mother Nature also supplies her own very useful pre-made firelighters in the form of pine resin. Keep an eye out for pine trees on your travels. They are easy to identify from a distance as they stand out from most other Australian flora. Almost all conifers secrete resin from areas of the tree that have sustained mechanical damage. The resin seeps from these locations and solidifies over time thus sealing the wound. Resin has long been a prized natural resource for humans due to its high content of hydrocarbons, namely terpenes, from which turpentine is produced.

The hardened resin can be collected from the bark of these trees and presents as a transparent or waxy white sap. Being very volatile, the resin will burn vigorously for a long time, up to ten minutes for a matchbox-sized piece.

Resin will take to flame quickly and soon melt so be sure to place it down as soon as the flame is established and avoid contact with the hot liquid resin.

Lighting the FirePlace the tinder or firelighter in the fireplace and when its lit hold the bundle of kindling horizontally over the flame at one end.

Keep the bundle together then wait for the flames to establish and grow up the length of kindling. Once youre happy that the fire has taken hold, place the bundle down and begin adding more small sticks.

In very wet conditions it might be necessary to have more kindling as a backup until an ember base is established.

Be sure to nurse the fire by adding progressively larger wood, remembering that the wood will need time to dry out before catching alight.

As the fire builds its wise to stack the next lot of timber alongside the fire to dry out in advance.

From left to right: Cardboard candles before dipping. A Milo tin is good for melting wax and storing what you dont use. Pine resin is collected from pine trees that have had mechanical damage. Fire dust made from sawdust, woodchips and kerosene. Pine resin burning. Lighting the cardboard candle.Below left: Lighting a cotton ball firelighter with a firesteel. (All images courtesy of Blake Muir)

FURPHYS FOUNDRY SALES PTY LTDDrummond Road, Shepparton VIC 3630 Phone: (03) 5831 2777 Web: www.furphyfoundry.com.au

making homemade FireLighters

toP tiPFire requires fuel, oxygen and heat to exist.

Remove one of these elements and the fire will go out. Remember this when building a fire. A common mistake is to add too much fuel too quickly, which will douse a fire.

In wet weather the sensitivity of this is far more acute so pay attention while the fire is getting started.