Everything is wet. Your wood, your hands, your matches if you were careless. This is the exact moment a fire plug earns its spot in your pack. Here is how to use one the right way, step by step, so the fire starts when you need it.
Why use fire plugs instead of just kindling?
Dry kindling is great when you have it. When you don't, you need something that lights anyway and holds a flame long enough for small sticks to catch. That is the job of a fire plug.
Blaze Fire Plugs are waterproof, so a soaked pouch or a dropped plug in a puddle is not the end of your fire. They are small, light and easy to carry, and each one burns long enough to catch your kindling. They are also non-toxic and handmade in Georgia, because we wanted a plug we would trust in our own gear.
How do you light a fire plug? Bend, fluff, spark.
This is the whole method. Learn it once and do it with cold hands.
- Bend. Take one plug and bend it in half. This opens up the plug and breaks the outer surface so it takes a spark.
- Fluff. Pull the fibers apart with your thumb and fingers. Loose, fuzzy fibers catch a spark far better than a tight plug. Spend a few extra seconds here. Most failed lights come from skipping this step.
- Spark. Light the fluffed fibers with a ferro rod, a lighter or a match. With a ferro rod, hold the plug close, scrape hard and fast, and aim the sparks into the fluff.
Practice this at home once before you need it in the field. It takes a minute and it makes the real thing easy.
What if the plug gets wet before I light it?
The plug itself is waterproof, but fluffed fibers are loose and can pick up water. That is just physics, and every fire starter has the same limit. So:
- Fluff right before you light, not ten minutes earlier.
- If the fluffed fibers get soaked, squeeze them out and fluff again, or work them in your hands for a bit.
- If it is not catching, grab a fresh plug. You have 50 in the pouch, so use them.
How do you light a fire in rain, wind and snow?
Rain. Get under cover first if you can, even a tree trunk or a jacket held overhead. Keep the plug and your kindling off wet ground. A flat piece of bark or a flat stone makes a good base.
Wind. Put your back to the wind and use your body as a wall. Build a small windbreak with a log, a rock or your pack. Light the plug low and keep it close to the kindling so the flame is not blown away from your sticks.
Snow. Never build directly on snow. Make a platform with a few green sticks or a flat piece of bark, then build your fire on that. Cold hands fumble, so fluff the plug before your fingers go numb.
How do you stack kindling on a fire plug?
The plug is your starter, not your fuel. Its job is to get the small stuff burning.
- Prepare everything before you light. Have pencil-thin twigs, then thumb-thick sticks, then wrist-thick pieces within reach.
- Set the plug down and lean the thinnest twigs over it like a tiny tent, leaving gaps for air.
- Light the plug and let the flame climb into the twigs. Add the next size up slowly as each layer catches.
- Do not smother it. A fire needs air as much as fuel. If it is dying, gently add thin twigs and give it room to breathe.
The best advice we give: gather more wood than you think you need before you light the plug. Running around for sticks while your flame fades is how fires fail.
How should you store fire plugs?
Keep the plugs in the pouch and the pouch in your pack, truck or car, or kit. Store them somewhere dry and out of direct heat when you can. We build Blaze Fire Plugs for a long shelf life, 20+ years when stored properly, so you can toss a pouch in your emergency kit and forget about it until you need it. Check your kit once a year anyway, since that is good practice with any gear.
Fire plug FAQ
How many plugs do I use for one fire?
Usually one plug per fire. A 50 count pouch gives you up to 50 fires.
How long does a plug burn?
Long enough to catch your kindling. Burn time changes with wind, temperature and how much you fluff, so we do not promise a number. Have your kindling ready before you light.
Do fire plugs work when wet?
Yes. They are waterproof. Fluff them just before lighting and keep the fluffed fibers as dry as you can.
Are fire plugs safe to use?
They are non-toxic, but they make real fire. Use them the way you would use any fire starter: clear the area, keep a bucket of water or dirt close, and never leave a fire alone.
Need plugs for your pack? Get a 50 count pouch of Blaze Fire Plugs. We Get Ya Going!