How To Make A Swedish Fire Torch

The Swedish Fire Torch, also known as a Canadian Candle, is a great way to set up a fire as it uses only one log, has a flat cooking surface and is self feeding, meaning it can burn for several hours without any attention.



The Swedish Fire Torch is easy to build, takes up a small amount of space and is also a good fire to make in snow, as the main part of the construction is kept off the wet ground.

The torch is made by taking a reasonably sized log, which has a flat top and bottom, and splitting it into four quarters. This will act as the main fuel for the fire. The log is then reassembled, leaving equally sized gaps between each piece.



The kindling for the fire is made of smaller pieces of wood, in this case branches which have been split into smaller battons. The kindling is placed at alternating angles, in a criss-cross fashion, between the gaps. Due to the gap between each piece of the split log, the kindling is easily placed.



The tinder, which is what will catch a flame and initiate the fire, should be placed at the top of the torch and may also be placed intermittently between the kindling.

The heat, ashes and flames of the tinder will, once lit, drop down onto the lower layers, causing them to also ignite. This, in turn, will act to set fire to the four quarters of the split log. The tinder can be lit using a spark from a striker, or a flame if using a lighter or match.



Once the fire has been started, air is able to freely circulate within, Swedish Torchdue to the gaps between the split log, providing oxygen to the flames. Once established, the fire can burn freely without any further attention