A Fan Of Fire

by Jarod McClure
(Fairmont, WV)

Every year I go with some friends into a remote area known as The Cranberry Wilderness Area in southern West Virginia. We hike into the middle of a no-motor-vehicle area and set up camp. Each year our camp seems to get better and in turn we have a better time. Last year I brought a mini fan made by Coleman. It runs on one AA battery and has two fan blades. It may seem as a non-essential item for the pack, but I will never go camping without one ever again.

No matter how well I bank a campfire, I am sure to find it barely smoldering the next morning. We all know how time consuming and filthy digging out ashes can be. And starting a fire sometimes is easier said than done. So over the years I have found a way to keep one fire all week without using an unnecessary amount of wood.

Step one takes place before I turn in for the night. I find a dry log and split it until there is nothing to split. I'm talking splintered pieces of wood as small as you can get it with a hand axe and hammer. Lay your bundle on a rock near the fire so that it is dry the next morning. Throw an unchopped and/or knotted-up log on the fire and crawl in your sleeping bag. The next morning you should have some embers underneath all that ash.

Step two: pull out the mini fan that your buddies called you a sissy for packing and begin to blow it directly on the fire. Nothing can compare to reviving a fire than a mini camp fan. You should see at least one spot where there are hot embers glowing. After a few seconds of coaxing the embers slowly add the dry kinlen you have set aside and before you know it your campfire will be ready for a pot of coffee. Use this simple yet effective method and become a master of controlling your camp fire. Happy outings to all!