fire | The Filson Journal

National Forest Elemental series. Fires in the Forests: A Gift of the Gods

Fire is destructive, but it is also cleansing. Fire occurs throughout the natural world in many forms, and in the hands of mankind, it can be wielded for good and evil.

10 Min

Profiles

The Triple Nickels: Smoke Jumpers of the 555th Parachute Infantry Battalion

the 555th Parachute Infantry Battalion was an all-black airborne unit of the United States Army that not only protected our homeland from wildfire devastation during the1940s, but greatly impacted firefighting in the Pacific Northwest and smoke jumping as a vocation.

5 Min

Profiles

Steel, Fire, and Tradition: Blacksmith Neil Kamimura

At first glance, Kamimura can seem intimidating. His burly arms are covered in tattoos, a serene gaze emanating from a face framed by a bushy black beard and long hair often worn in a bun. His worn leather apron is a testament to the long hours he spends daily inside the T Kamimura Blacksmith Shop on the Big Island of Hawaii. But like the ocean breezes so common here, his smile quickly dominates the room, especially when he begins discussing his life’s passion, making stunning blades in paradise.

5 Min

Profiles

A Short History of U.S. Fire Lookouts

Fire lookouts have long held an important service to our forests and communities. While technology advancements help make spotting fires easier, 150+ fire lookouts are still actively manned in the U.S. today. Learn more about their history here

2 Min

How-To's

How to Buy a Fire Lookout Tower

If you’ve ever seen a fire lookout tower and thought to yourself, “I wish I had one of those,” that dream might not be as far from reality as you first thought. Whether you’re looking for a unique get-away, or maybe even a new cabin, we break-down how to go about finding and potentially buying a surplus lookout.

5 Min

How-To's

Wet Weather Fire Starters

Cold and wet at camp? Dry out and warm up quickly by starting a fire with these four items that are most likely around your campsite.

5 Min

stylized painting of people sitting around a campfire in spooky looking woods

Field Notes

Filson Community: Campfire Ghost Stories

Cheers to everyone who wrote in with their scariest campfire ghost stories. Read on for our favorite submissions, and be sure to commit one to memory for your next night around the campfire…

10 Min

Food & Recipes

Filson Food: Drunken Bacon S’mores

You know what a s’more is. They’ve been a camping staple around the fire for as long as any of us can remember. But what we have here today is a clever and boozy upgrade on a camping staple. Read the Recipe on the Filson Journal for Drunken Bacon S’mores These s’mores are irresistible thanks to their sweet and salty combo. Bourbon, bacon, and chocolate are the stars of the show and make for a campfire treat that upstages the classic version.

5 Min

boots set on a white tool pouch next to a camouflage backpack and motorcycle

Profiles

Filson x White’s Boots: Unfailing Quality Built on Legacy

Modeled after the boots worn by USFS hotshots, Filson and white’s boots have teamed up to build a limited-edition boot: the fire hybrid. Manufactured in Spokane by white’s using our tough tin cloth, they’re a perfect pairing of two iconic pacific northwestern brands, each with over 120 years of experience constructing unfailing gear. We sat down with white’s boots president, Eric Kinney to learn more about white’s legacy of craftsmanship.

5 Min

woman in brown and gray flannel shirt blowing through the side of a rocket stove sending sparks out of the central hole in the log

How-To's

How to Create a Rocket Stove

Simple, compact, scalable, the wooden rocket stove uses itself as fuel. named for it’s likeness to the business end of a rocket, this method produces an incredibly efficient cook-top when a hot meal or some potable water are a must.

10 Min

National Forest Elemental series. Fires in the Forests: A Gift of the Gods

The Triple Nickels: Smoke Jumpers of the 555th Parachute Infantry Battalion

Steel, Fire, and Tradition: Blacksmith Neil Kamimura

A Short History of U.S. Fire Lookouts

How to Buy a Fire Lookout Tower

Wet Weather Fire Starters

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Filson Community: Campfire Ghost Stories

Filson Food: Drunken Bacon S’mores

Filson x White’s Boots: Unfailing Quality Built on Legacy

How to Create a Rocket Stove