Emergency Campfire Starter

I went camping and found myself 10 miles from the nearest camp store and with wet logs (thanks to a sudden storm). I had neglected to bring any lighter fluid and needed to find a way to get a campfire going. I began to scavenge our supplies for what i could find, knowing I needed some form of oil and alcohol.


This is much safer than siphoning gasoline from your car, which I do not suggest you try. (no I didn't try it first :)

Step 1: Materials

• obviously fire wood ..haha
• bacon grease or cooking oil (used or new)
• some form of light fuel (alcohol, lighter fluid, hand sanitizer)
• matches/lighter

Comments

[out-of-the-box]

this is a great idea! i had to start a fire with leaves, wet wood and notebook paper. pain in the neck... anyways i have to ask, would the hand sanatizer pose a risk if you tried cooking food over the flame? I have heard a few stories about people getting sick from similar ignition solutions.

[bizydad]

I don't know the answer to that for sure. It is mostly alcohol, so I would assume that once you let it burn off it will be fine. The small amount used in this instructable wouldn't really be enough to cause an issue I think.

[out-of-the-box]

i figured. anyways i just had to ask, great instructable!
i will do this next time i go camping!

[macman808]

how much oil to 1/2 oz of hand-sanitizer

[bizydad]

I mixed it about 20/80. If you can't get it started you need more sanitizer. Keep in mind if your wood is very wet the more oil you can use, the better chance you will have getting the wood to light. I just saw the cautionary comment below. Keep that in mind and make sure your hands are clean and dry before using an accelerant to light a fire.

[eyesee]

Good idea

[Sylvanus]

Great instructable, I was distinctly reminded of a Molotov cocktail.

[justyn wook]

nice im a survivalist and this is a great find

[canida]

Nice! Good thinking - I'll keep that one in mind.

[thearchitect]

Purell! Excellent idea, thanks! K.

[emmerich45]

use caution when using the high alcohol content hand sanitizers, i read a report a couple of years ago of a factory worker who cleansed his hands and then went out for a cigarrette the hand sanitizer hand had time to soak into his hands but not evaporate away the alcohol, it caught fire and he ended up with VERY severe buurns. good work on the instructable.

[Logan D]

I have done this with Purell and a friend's Pomade while backpacking after some rain.