A Dakota fire hole requires much less firewood and burns more efficiently, producing hotter fires with less wood. This makes it a very valuable wilderness survival technique in places where firewood is scarce or requires much effort to obtain.
It also creates a stable platform that is very convenient for cooking.
The fire is concealed within a hole limiting the amount of visible light emitted and smoke is also decreased because the wood is burning hotter and more efficiently.
This is a fact!
Civil Air Patrol cadets and senior members are trained in survival skills: this fire I have made and used personally. This is only one of many skills learned and taught by emergency service personnel.
Check out http://www.gocivilairpatrol.com for more information!
Love this idea for backpacking. Thanks.
Instead of another hole beside the fire hole just dig your fire hole and then take a long slender branch and poke 3 holes on angles from outside the fire hole into the fire hole…less digging and less back fill. fill the fire hole with your dirt and the 3 angled holes with water or any left over dirt from your fire hole….and be sure the grass around the fire hole is non burnable…..
When it;s below zero with snow on the ground…….Plan B.
Rhonda Young Price it’s too cold to be cooking outside
Kinda like a rocket stove in the ground.
Too much patter, just examine hole & vent. Since hit rises couldn’t you build this inside tent & bring some warmth , bigger hole?
A Dakota fire hole is a rocket stove.
Other than I think using more water to douse it in the great northwest – this is pretty nifty!
Great idea. Could also bring a grate from one of those cheap, aluminum grills and put over it.