I have watched a few of David’s Passage this is one of my favorites, I love these Swedish Fire Touches. I like to make these in the winter time to keep the fire off the ground. If you haven’t tried it you should. Very easy to make and it burns hot and long.
The Swedish Fire Torch rocks, and in this video, I go through and demonstrate the process of making one. This fire method is also sometimes referred to as the Swedish fire stove, or a Swedish fire log, and finally, a “one log fire”.
This is a technique that I believe was “invented” by the Swedish army as a way to cook food over a fire while allowing them to raise the fire above the snow-covered ground.
This fire method has several other applications as well. It works great for pot cooking as the flat surface allows for a pot to sit on top for a very long time. It is also cool in that, by raising the fire off the ground, it allows for easier hand-warming.
It’s efficient in that the airflow of the fire goes from bottom to top. In a sense, the fire helps cause a current of air that allows the flame to burn more efficiently over some other fire lays.
To make this, all you have to do is saw a log with two flat, parallel surfaces. You then split the log into at least 4 pieces. After splitting, insert tinder and kindling in the cross sections and light the fire from the top. For best results, allow the fire to burn down into the core a bit before putting a pot on top.
For increased stability, set the log in a hole or pile a bit of dirt around the bottom perimeter. You can also wrap the bottom with cordage if need be, but be careful as the fire burns down.
One final benefit to this method is the fact that after it’s lit, it is fairly easy to transport over short distances. Just pick up the sides VERY CAREFULLY and transport. Although I DO NOT RECOMMEND THIS, it can be done this way if need be. When you set the fire back down in the new location, just spread the sections out a bit and blow the flame back to life.
As with any fire, BE SURE IT’S COMPLETELY OUT BEFORE LEAVING IT!!!
