The Arctic and Polar Regions
Believe it to not, you can get a fire going in these regions, although it’s
likely not going to be a big one (unless you’re on the coast and have ample
driftwood on hand, see below). One of the reasons why the Inuit are so
accustomed to eating raw food is that they can’t build big fires.
But even on the tundra, it’s surprising how many twigs and small
scrub bushes you can find if you look hard enough.
In addition, mosses in the Arctic burn reasonably well, provided
they’re sufficiently dry. Inuit have used seal oil lamps for thousands of
years, so that’s an option as well.
Jungles
Rain is your biggest threat to fire in the jungle, where it can easily fall for
10 or 12 hours a day. The challenge, then, is to shelter your fire.
Even so, any fire you get in the jungle isn’t likely to be a roaring one.
The general dampness of the area and the restricted availability of dry fuel
will limit you to a small fire. But fire will still provide you with a psycho
logical boost, warmth if needed, and the ability to cook your food—and it
may help keep the animals away.
Coastal Regions
Driftwood is a godsend in coastal regions, and often there is lots of it.
Although some of it will be very dry, don’t assume it will all be so. In my
experience, at least half of all driftwood is waterlogged and unusable as
firewood.
(^138) | Survive!