Hi there Mark check this site the info you require is on it
http://www.ukcampsite.co.uk/sites/de...asp?revid=1697
we are now running family bushcraft weekends as from next year which may be of interest to you and your wife check us out on here
http://www.bearclawbushcraft.co.uk for more details.
Gill fire craft is a huge subject ill try to condence it down a bit but i could bore you all day on the pleasures of pyrolosis
choosing the correct fire site and preping and clearing it correctly is paramount (wont go into that now)
Fire is mans (or womans) greatest tool we are a fire based society and our species developed at a rapid rate because of it. We should never disrespect our fire the same as we never disrespect any other tool such as a knife, axe ect, our fire brings us safety and cooks our food, makes water safe and keeps us warm so as thus we NEVER burn any rubbish on it as it taints our food and leaves residues in the soil and wood ash and as we use the wood ash in wilderness living for many uses we take any rubbish home with us and dispose of it properly rather than burning it, an hour or so before we are finished with our fire we use all remaining fuel up, push the burning ends of the logs inwards to reduce them to ash and let the fire burn its self out fully, we then take a sharpened stick and push holes into the soil in the fire site and around the edge (as deep as possible), (note: leafy dry soil eg pine duff will burn underground and if not put out properly will ignite when it reaches the surface,this is the cause of many forest fires) and spread the ash and remaining coals out over the burned fire area, then we use as much water as it takes to extinguish the fire (wee on it if neccesary
) if water is not available a smaller cooking fire must be used and it must be finished with and the site not left untill the fire site and surrounding soil is totally cool to the touch (this varies between soils, fire should never be lit on duff made up of pine needles in a pine forest unless you are confident you know what you are doing ) After you flood the area with water and are comfortable with the fact its out you use your hands to mix all the ash into a slurry, only by touch can you be sure of the absence of heat, only then can you scatter the sodden cool ashes and scatter them well so they do not appear obvious in the surrounding undergrowth, once the fire base is clear of ash and is cool the leaves ect you previously cleared can be swept over the burned area leaving no trace, nature then takes over. As i said each type of fire may take different techniques to build, light and extinguish correctly and if in a survival or wilderness living situation not done correctly could cost lives ultimatly your own.
Sorry for the Drivel but you asked lol
JP x
http://www.bearclawbushcraft.co.uk