Heating Coal
stores well if kept in a dark place and away from moving air. Air speeds deterioration
and breakdown, causing it to burn more rapidly. Coal may be stored in a plastic-lined
pit or in sheds, bags, boxes, or barrels and should be kept away from circulating
air, light, and moisture. Cover it to lend protection from weather and sun. Wood.
Hardwoods such as apple, cherry, and other fruit woods are slow burning and
sustain coals. Hardwoods are more difficult to burn than softer woods, thus
requiring a supply of kindling. Soft woods such as pine and cedar are light
in weight and burn very rapidly, leaving ash and few coals for cooking. If
you have a fireplace or a wood/coal burning stove, you will want to store several
cords of firewood. Firewood is usually sold by the cord which is a neat pile
that totals 128 cubic feet. This pile is four feet wide, four feet high, and
eight feet long. Some dealers sell wood by the ton. As a general rule of thumb,
a standard cord of air dried dense hardwood weighs about two tons and provides
as much heat as one ton of coal. Be suspicious of any alleged cord delivered
in a 1/2 or 3/4 ton pickup truck. For
best results, wood should be seasoned (dried) properly, usually at east a year.
A plastic tarp, wood planks, or other plastic or metal sheeting over the woodpile
is useful in keeping the wood dry. Other types of fuels are more practical
to store and use than wood or coal. Newspaper
logs make a good and inexpensive source of fuel. You may prepare the logs in
the following manner: - Use
about eight pages of newspaper and open flat.
- Spread
the stack, alternating the cut sides and folded sides.
- Place
a 1" wood dowel or metal rod across one end and roll the paper around the rod
very tightly. Roll it until there are 6-8 inches left to roll, then slip another
8 pages underneath the roll. Continue this procedure until you have a roll
4-6 inches in diameter.
- With
a fine wire, tie the roll on both ends. Withdraw the rod. Your newspaper log
is ready to use. Four of these logs will burn about 1 hour.
Propane
is another excellent fuel for indoor use. Like kerosene, it produces carbon
dioxide as it burns and is therefore not poisonous. It does consume oxygen
so be sure to crack a window when burning propane. Propane
stores indefinitely, having no known shelf life. Propane stoves and small portable
heaters are very economical, simple to use, and come the closest to approximating
the type of convenience most of us are accustomed to using on a daily basis. The
storage of propane is governed by strict local laws. In this area you may store
up to 1 gallon inside a building and up to 60 gallons stored outside. If you
store more than these amounts, you will need a special permit from the fire
marshal. The
primary hazard in using propane is that it is heavier than air and if a leak
occurs it may "pool" which can create an explosive atmosphere. Furthermore,
basement natural gas heating units CANNOT be legally converted for propane
use. Again, the vapors are heavier than air and form "pockets." Ignition sources
such as water heaters and electrical sources can cause an explosion. White
gas (Coleman fuel). Many families have camp stoves which burn Coleman Fuel
or white gasoline. These stoves are fairly easy to use and produce a great
amount of heat. However, they, like charcoal, produce vast amounts of carbon
monoxide. NEVER use a Coleman Fuel stove indoors. It could be a fatal mistake
to your entire family. Never
store fuels in the house or near a heater. Use a metal store cabinet which
is vented on top and bottom and can be locked. Kerosene
(also known as Range Oil No. 1) is the cheapest of all the storage fuels and
is also very forgiving if you make a mistake. Kerosene is not as explosive
as gasoline and Coleman fuel. Kerosene stores well for long periods of time
and by introducing some fuel additives it can be made to store even longer.
However, do not store it in metal containers for extended time periods unless
they are porcelain lined because the moisture in the kerosene will rust through
the container causing the kerosene to leak out. Most hardware stores and home
improvement centers sell kerosene in five gallon plastic containers which store
for many years. A 55 gallon drum stores in the back yard, or ten 5 gallon plastic
containers will provide fuel enough to last an entire winter if used sparingly. Caution:
To burn kerosene you will need a kerosene heater. There are many models and
sizes to choose from but remember that you are not trying to heat your entire
home. The larger the heater the more fuel you will have to store. Most families
should be able to get by on a heater that produces about 9,600 BTUs of heat,
though kerosene heaters are made that will produce up to 25,000 to 30,000 BTUs.
If you have the storage space to store the fuel required by these larger heaters
they are excellent investments, but for most families the smaller heaters are
more than adequate. When selecting a kerosene heater be sure to get one that
can double as a cooking surface and source of light. Then when you are forced
to use it be sure to plan your meals so that they can be cooked when you are
using the heater for heat rather than wasting fuel used for cooking only. When
kerosene burns it requires very little oxygen, compared to charcoal. You must
crack a window about 1/4 inch to allow enough oxygen to enter the room to prevent
asphyxiation. During combustion, kerosene is not poisonous and is safe to use
indoors. To prevent possible fires you should always fill it outside. The momentary
incomplete combustion during lighting and extinguishing of kerosene heaters
can cause some unpleasant odors. To prevent these odors from lingering in your
home always light and extinguish the heater out of doors. During normal operation
a kerosene heater is practically odorless. Charcoal.
Never use a charcoal burning device indoors. When charcoal burns it is a voracious
consumer of oxygen and will quickly deplete the oxygen supply in your little
"home within a home." Furthermore, as it burns it produces vast amounts of
carbon monoxide which is a deadly poison. If you make the mistake of trying
to heat your home by burning charcoal it could prove fatal to your entire family.
Never burn charcoal indoors. Cooking
 To
conserve your cooking fuel storage needs always do your emergency cooking in
the most efficient manner possible. Don't boil more water than you need, extinguish
the fire as soon as you finished, plan your meals ahead of time to consolidate
as much cooking as possible, during the winter cook on top of your heating
unit while heating your home, and cook in a pressure cooker or other fuel efficient
container as much as possible. Keep enough fuel to provide outdoor cooking
for at least 7-10 days. It
is even possible to cook without using fuel at all. For example, to cook dry
beans you can place them inside a pressure cooker with the proper amount of
water and other ingredients needed and place it on your heat source until it
comes up to pressure. Then turn off the heat, remove the pressure cooker and
place inside a large box filled with newspapers, blankets, or other insulating
materials. Leave it for two and a half hours and then open it, your meal will
be done, having cooked for two and a half hours with no heat. If you don't
have a large box in which to place the pressure cooker, simply wrap it in several
blankets and place it in the corner. Store
matches in waterproof airtight tin with each piece of equipment that must be
lit with a flame. Sterno
fuel, a jellied petroleum product, is an excellent source of fuel for inclusion
in your back pack as part of your 72 hour kit. Sterno is very light weight
and easily ignited with a match or a spark from flint and steel but is not
explosive. It is also safe for use indoors. A
Sterno stove can be purchased at any sporting goods store and will retail between
$3 and $8, depending upon the model you choose. They fold up into a very small,
compact unit ideal for carrying in a pack. The fuel is readily available at
all sporting goods stores and many drug stores. One can of Sterno fuel, about
the diameter of a can of tuna fish and twice as high, will allow you to cook
six meals if used frugally. Chafing dishes and fondue pots can also be used
with Sterno. Sterno
is not without some problems. It will evaporate very easily, even when the
lid is securely fastened. If you use Sterno in your 72 hour kit you should
check it every six to eight months to insure that it has not evaporated beyond
the point of usage. Because of this problem it is not a good fuel for long-term
storage. It is a very expensive fuel to use compared to others fuel available,
but is extremely convenient and portable. Coleman
fuel (white gas), when used with a Coleman stove is another excellent and convenient
fuel for cooking. It is not as portable nor as lightweight as Sterno, but produces
a much greater BTU value. Like Sterno, Coleman fuel has a tendency to evaporate
even when the container is tightly sealed so it is not a good fuel for long-term
storage. Unlike Sterno, however, it is highly volatile; it will explode under
the right conditions and should therefore never be stored in the home. Because
of its highly flammable nature great care should always be exercised when lighting
stoves and lanterns that use Coleman fuel. Many serious burns have been caused
by carelessness with this product. Always store Coleman fuel in the garage
or shed, out of doors. Charcoal
is the least expensive fuel per BTU that the average family can store. Remember
that it must always be used out of doors because of the vast amounts of poisonous
carbon monoxide it produces. Charcoal will store for extended period of time
if it is stored in air tight containers. It readily absorbs moisture from the
surrounding air so do not store it in the paper bags it comes in for more than
a few months or it may be difficult to light. Transfer it to airtight metal
or plastic containers and it will keep almost forever. Fifty
or sixty dollars worth of charcoal will provide all the cooking fuel a family
will need for an entire year if used sparingly. The best time to buy briquettes
inexpensively is at the end of the summer. Broken or torn bags of briquettes
are usually sold at a big discount. You will also want to store a small amount
of charcoal lighter fluid
(or kerosene). Newspapers will also provide an excellent ignition source for
charcoal when used in a funnel type of lighting device. To
light charcoal using newspapers use two or three sheets, crumpled up, and a
#10 tin can. Cut both ends out of the can. Punch holes every two inches around
the lower edge of the can with a punch-type can opener (for opening juice cans).
Set the can down so the punches holes are on the bottom. Place the crumpled
newspaper in the bottom of the can and place the charcoal briquettes on top
of the newspaper. Lift the can slightly and light the newspaper. Prop a small
rock under the bottom edge of the can to create a a good draft. The briquettes
will be ready to use in about 20-30 minutes. When the coals are ready remove
the chimney and place them in your cooker. Never place burning charcoal directly
on concrete or cement because the heat will crack it. A wheelbarrow or old
metal garbage can lid makes an excellent container for this type of fire. One
of the nice things about charcoal is that you can regulate the heat you will
receive from them. Each briquette will produce about 40 degrees of heat. If
you are baking bread, for example, and need 400 degrees of heat for your oven,
simply use ten briquettes. To
conserve heat and thereby get the maximum heat value from your charcoal you
must learn to funnel the heat where you want it rather than letting it dissipate
into the air around you. One excellent way to do this is to cook inside a cardboard
oven. Take a cardboard box, about the size of an orange crate, and cover it
with aluminum foil inside and out. Be sure that the shiny side is visible so
that maximum reflectivity is achieved. Turn the box on its side so that the
opening is no longer on the top but is on the side. Place some small bricks
or other noncombustible material inside upon which you can rest a cookie sheet
about two or three inches above the bottom of the box. Place ten burning charcoal
briquettes between the bricks (if you need 400 degrees), place the support
for your cooking vessels, and then place your bread pans or whatever else you
are using on top of the cookie sheet. Prop a foil-covered cardboard lid over
the open side, leaving a large crack for air to get in (charcoal needs a lot
of air to burn) and bake your bread, cake, cookies, etc. just like you would
in your regular oven. Your results will amaze you. To
make your own charcoal, select twigs, limbs, and branches of fruit, nut and
other hardwood trees; black walnuts and peach or apricot pits may also be used.
Cut wood into desired size, place in a large can which has a few holes punched
in it, put a lid on the can and place the can in a hot fire. When the flames
from the holes in the can turn yellow-red, remove the can from the fire and
allow it to cool. Store the briquettes in a moisture-proof container. Burn
charcoal only in a well-ventilated area. Wood
and Coal. Many wood and coal burning stoves are made with cooking surface.
These are excellent to use indoors during the winter because you may already
be using it to heat the home. In the summer, however, they are unbearably hot
and are simply not practical cooking appliances for indoor use. If you choose
to build a campfire on the ground outside be sure to use caution and follow
all the rules for safety. Little children, and even many adults, are not aware
of the tremendous dangers that open fires may pose. Kerosene.
Many kerosene heaters will also double as a cooking unit. In fact, it is probably
a good idea to not purchase a kerosene heater that cannot be used to cook on
as well. Follow the same precautions for cooking over kerosene as was discussed
under the section on heating your home with kerosene. Propane.
Many families have propane camp stoves. These are the most convenient and easy
to use of all emergency cooking appliances available. They may be used indoors
or out. As with other emergency fuel sources, cook with a pressure cooker whenever
possible to conserve fuel. Lighting Most
of the alternatives require a fire or flame, so use caution. More home fires
are caused by improper usage of fires used for light than for any other purpose.
Especially use extra caution with children and flame. Teach them the proper
safety procedures to follow under emergency conditions. Allow them to practice
these skills under proper adult supervision now, rather than waiting until
an emergency strikes. Cyalume
sticks are the safest form of indoor lighting available but very few people
even know what they are. Cyalume sticks can be purchased at most sporting goods
stores for about $2 per stick. They are a plastic stick about four inches in
length and a half inch in diameter. To activate them, simply bend them until
the glass tube inside them breaks, then shake to mix the chemicals inside and
it will glow a bright green light for up to eight hours. Cyalume is the only
form of light that is safe to turn on inside a home after an earthquake. One
of the great dangers after a serious earthquake is caused by ruptured natural
gas lines. If you flip on a light switch or even turn on a flashlight you run
the risk of causing an explosion. Cyalume will not ignite natural gas. Cyalume
sticks are so safe that a baby can even use them for a teether. Flashlights
are excellent for most types of emergencies except in situations where ruptured
natural gas lines may be present. Never turn a flashlight on or off if there
is any possibility of ruptured gas lines. Go outside first, turn it on or off,
then enter the building. The
three main problems with relying upon flashlights is that they give light to
very small areas, the batteries run down fairly quickly during use, and batteries
do not store well for extended time periods. Alkaline batteries store the best
if stored in a cool location and in an airtight container. These batteries
should be expected to store for three to five years. Many manufacturers are
now printing a date on the package indicating the date through which the batteries
should be good. When stored under ideal conditions the shelf life will be much
longer than that indicated. Lithium batteries will store for about twice as
long as alkaline batteries (about ten years). If
you use flashlights be sure to use krypton or halogen light bulbs in them because
they last much longer and give off several times more light than regular flashlight
bulbs on the same energy consumption. Store at least two or three extra bulbs
in a place where they will not be crushed or broken. Candles.
Every family should have a large supply of candles. Three hundred sixty-five
candles, or one per day is not too many. The larger the better. Fifty-hour
candles are available in both solid and liquid form. White or light colored
candles burn brighter than dark candles. Tallow candles burn brighter, longer,
and are fairly smoke free when compared to wax candles. Their lighting ability
can be increased by placing an aluminum foil reflector behind them or by placing
them in front of a mirror. However, candles are extremely dangerous indoors
because of the high fire danger--especially around children. For this reason
be sure to store several candle lanterns or broad-based candle holders. Be
sure to store a goodly supply of wooden matches Save
your candle ends for emergency use. Votive candles set in empty jars will burn
for up to 15 hours. Non-candles (plastic dish and paper wicks) and a bottle
of salad oil will provide hundreds of hours of candle light. Trench
candles can be used as fireplace fuel or as a candle for light. To make trench
candles: - Place
a narrow strip of cloth or twisted string (for a wick) on the edge of a stack
of 6-10 newspapers.
- Roll
the papers very tightly, leaving about 3/4" of wick extending at each end.
- Tie
the roll firmly with string or wire at 2-4" intervals.
- With
a small saw, cut about 1" above each tie and pull the cut sections into cone
shapes. Pull the center string in each piece toward the top of the cone to
serve as a wick.
- Melt
paraffin in a large saucepan set inside a larger pan of hot water. Soak the
pieces of candle in the paraffin for about 2 minutes.
- Remove
the candles and place on a newspaper to dry.
Kerosene
lamps are excellent sources of light and will burn for approximately 45 hours
on a quart of fuel. They burn bright and are inexpensive to operate. The main
problem with using them is failure to properly trim the wicks and using the
wrong size chimney. Wicks should be trimmed in an arch, a "V," an "A" or straight
across the top. Failure to properly trim and maintain wicks will result in
smoke and poor light. Aladdin
type lamps that use a circular wick and mantle do not need trimming and produce
much more light (and heat) than conventional kerosene lamps. These lamps, however,
produce a great amount of heat, getting up to 750 degrees F. If placed within
36 inches of any combustible object such as wooden cabinets, walls, etc. charring
can occur. Great caution should therefore be exercised to prevent accidental
fires. The
higher the elevation the taller the chimney should be. Most chimneys that come
with kerosene lamps are made for use at sea level. At about 4500 feet above
sea level the chimney should be about 18-20 inches high. If your chimney is
not as tall as it should be you can improvise by wrapping aluminum foil around
the top of it and extending it above the top. This will enable the light to
still come out of the bottom portion and yet provide proper drawing of air
for complete combustion. If the chimney is too short it will result in smoke
and poor light. Be sure to store extra wicks, chimneys and mantles. Propane
and Coleman lanterns. Camp lanterns burning Coleman fuel or propane make excellent
sources of light. Caution should be used in filling and lighting Coleman lanterns
because the fuel is highly volatile and a flash type fire is easy to set off.
Always fill them outside. Propane, on the other hand, is much safer. It is
not as explosive and does not burn quite as hot. A double mantle lantern gives
off as much light as two 100-watt light bulbs. Either propane or Coleman fuel
type lanterns are very reliable and should be an integral part of your preparedness
program. Be sure to store plenty of extra mantles and matches. Store
lots of wooden matches (1,000-2,000 is not too many). Also store butane cigarette
lighters to light candles, lanterns and fireplaces. It would be a good idea
for everyone to have a personal fire building kit with at least six different
ways to start a fire. Above
all, your home and family must be protected from the ravages of fire by your
actions. Study the instructions for any appliance used for heating, cooking,
or lighting and understand their features as well as their limitations. Don't
go to sleep with any unvented burning device in your home. Your family might
not wake up. Whatever
you store, store it safely and legally. In an emergency, survival may cause
you to make decisions that are questionable with regard to safety. Become educated
to the inherent hazards of your choices and make a decision based on as much
verifiable information as possible. You and your family's lives will depend
on it. Consider
carefully how you will provide fuel for your family for heating, cooking, and
lighting during times of emergencies. Next to food, water, and shelter, energy
is the most important item you can store.
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