Building Fire Pro Tip (Safely Using Gasoline to Start a Fire)

What survival situations require flammable liquids to build fire?

Your snowmobile crashes miles from help; or you fall through the ice on a frozen lake or river; or your small aircraft crashes on the side of a mountain in the middle of winter. Wet and windy weather surrounds you. The perfect set-up for hypothermia and your survival clock starts ticking. The natural fire building materials soak up water like a sponge. What techniques or materials enable you to build a fire in these life-threatening conditions? Gasoline or other flammable liquids (lighter fluid, white gas, Av-gas, lantern fuel). 

This video shows you how to safely use gasoline to start a fire. Three big caveats: 1) never ever pour gasoline or any other flammable liquid on your fire-building materials or on your fire. This often results in an explosion injuring yourself and others around you; 2) use care to avoid tipping the flammable liquid when lighting; and, 3) always build your fire in an outside, well ventilated area (not inside a shelter or building).

Many survivors used these techniques to build a fire to save themselves; however, like any potentially dangerous tool (an automobile, a chainsaw, a firearm), flammable liquids potentially injure or kill if you fail to respect them.