By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support great journalism.
Have You Seen This? Starting a fire with a sandwich bag
007d51e8bf537b7600857820e2c7508e7d15b03dff452cb00f2eb9a4454d93f9
A video recently posted to YouTube by Grant Thompson, the self-appointed King of Random is enough to make me believe I could start a fire with little available other than some wooded surroundings and a simple sandwich baggie. - photo by Angie Treasure
THE GREAT OUTDOORS Im not exceptionally outdoorsy.

I go on walks (yes, even before Pokmon Go! was released) and camp approximately one weekend a year. I live on a mountainside near an excellent trail system, but dont hike as often as I should.

Its safe to say that being a survivalist is a bit beyond my reach.

However, a video recently posted to YouTube by Grant Thompson, the self-appointed King of Random is enough to make me believe I could start a fire with little available to me other than some wooded surroundings and a simple sandwich baggie.

Thompson shows how filling a small plastic back with water and twisting it to create a sphere can be used as a magnifying glass. Using some crushed up dry bark as a fire starter, Thompson expertly gets the bag to concentrate heat enough to create an ember before transferring that to a nest of tinder made of dry grass and then finally onto a pit with kindling ready. The whole process is very interesting and the short video makes it seem very doable.

Now, so many things would have to go wrong before I needed to employ the contingency plan of using a bag filled with water to light a fire (including being far enough away from civilization in the first place), but its one of those little knowledge nuggets thats unlikely to leave my brain anytime soon.

As always, be sure to practice proper fire safety, including making sure fires are allowed in the area where you try it, having proper supervision for young ones and ensuring any fire you start is completely out once you leave the area.
Sign up for our E-Newsletters