making fire with first aid???

[knorwj]

So I was watching survivorman yesterday and he showed a cool way to make fire. He popped open a first aid kit and pulled out what I believe was antiseptic ointment and some kind of clear diarea medicine. He squeezed out a little of the ointment on the ground then doused it with the clear liquid and it burst into flame. he then kept feeding the fire until he had a nice campfire going.

I thought this was an awesome tip for anyone who's into the outdoors, unfortuneately I missed the details of it. So does anyone know what the reaction was? Can anyone elaborate on this fire making tip?

[ericn1300]

It was potassium permanganate & glycerine. The liquids the TSA was worried about people getting on airplanes. You mix the two together and they produce an almost instant, but short lived, exothermic reaction. Nothing the TSA should be worried about, unless there is a high explosive along with it to be ignited, or that campers should consider except when no other ignition sources are available. I prefer to use the girl scouts fire starter when camping, laundry room dryer lint placed in a cardboard egg carton and saturated with parafin wax and ignited externaly, like with a match. last longers and generates more BTUs, and is more likely to start a campfire under adverse conditions more safely and cheaper.

[J-Ri]

Those little candles in the tin holder work really good. Can't remember what they're called. Just light it and start stacking sticks over it, working up to logs.