I have always been able to collect enough wood for a cheery blaze bare handed, even in snow. Long ago, I started carrying alternate fuels in wintry conditions. i suspect they would have done better to pile snow up around the vehicle, making an igloo of sorts.

I understand that then theinterior temp would stabilize at close to 32F.

Saws and hatchets, axes, etc. can be useful, indeed the best, for some tasks, but hardly a necessity for survival.