Hi,

I soaked a road flare (fusee) in a pail of water for two hours then buried it in the snow for two hours. The flare was the type with a plastic cap that is removed to expose the striking surfaces. To ignite you remove the cap from the flare, and the top from the cap; you then strike the cap on top of the flare to make a spark and ignition (think of it as a giant safety match).

It seems that the water deteriorated both of the ignition striking surfaces and I was unable to light the flare at all. I thought it might just be the flare because they are quite old and beat-up, but a second one from the same box lit easily. These things burn great and I had planned to cut one down for use as my winter last-chance SHTF fire making option, I guess I need to re-think that idea.

I need to try the test again with a brand new flare and also the type that has the striker end wrapped in a plastic film (not as easy to remove as the plastic cap).

I will post the outcome.

Mike