They did start the fire!
Youngsters and adults learned how to build and care for man’s first and greatest discovery — fire — at a wilderness training course that the Parks Department hosted in Marine Park on Feb. 5. Everyone should be able to light a flame caveman style — sans 21st-century materials like a lighter, that is — in case of an emergency, said one Sheepshead Bay resident who attended with her mother.
“It was very helpful. I’m interested in nature and survival and knowing what to do if ever I am in situation where I am camping or in the wilderness,” said Katrina Henderson.
Roughly 20 park-goers hunted for phragmites — dry plants found around most marsh areas that make good kindling — and then learned how to use flint and steel to spark a blaze, according to Urban Park Ranger Judith Velosky.
No one lit a raging inferno, but the flames were still hot enough to roast marshmallows after the lesson, Velosky said.
The lesson was a boon for so-called “doomsday preppers,” according to one of their ranks who says the apocalypse will be any day now.
“Preparing myself just in case if a situation were to occur I can be mentally prepared and know what I have to do to survive,” said Michel Magloire. “I have a hunch that s— is going to hit the fan. Really biblical — a lot of world events that coincide, correlated with scriptures. I just went for more survival preparedness.”
