Biraland
Fire Starters
8/21/2025 | 5m 3sVideo has Closed Captions
The group learns about different methods of starting fire.
The group learns about different methods of starting fire. iraland (pronounced BEEDA-land) is a 20-part video series from Vermont creator Bira Vanara. A musical comedy about the natural world and our connection to it, Biraland features a host of wacky characters, catchy original music and wild effects.
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
Biraland is a local public television program presented by Vermont Public
Biraland
Fire Starters
8/21/2025 | 5m 3sVideo has Closed Captions
The group learns about different methods of starting fire. iraland (pronounced BEEDA-land) is a 20-part video series from Vermont creator Bira Vanara. A musical comedy about the natural world and our connection to it, Biraland features a host of wacky characters, catchy original music and wild effects.
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
How to Watch Biraland
Biraland is available to stream on pbs.org and the free PBS App, available on iPhone, Apple TV, Android TV, Android smartphones, Amazon Fire TV, Amazon Fire Tablet, Roku, Samsung Smart TV, and Vizio.
Providing Support for PBS.org
Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorship-Now, see, -I think the birch bark needs -to be shredded up -a little finer -to get it more fluffy.
-No, we need more fat wood -shavings.
-Oh, here, -I'll just add some.
-Okay.
I think that's -probably good.
-Where's the lighter?
-Oh, here.
-What the heck is.
-Dang it!
-It appears your lighter -is out of fluid.
-Yeah.
Oh, -I got some matches.
-Or.
I mean, I have a match.
-That's okay.
-One match is all we need.
-Okay.
Yeah.
Nobody breathe.
-Oh.
Stupid wind.
-Looks like the wind -breathed.
Yeah.
-Thanks for that.
-Astute observation.
-Oh, can't -we use a magnifying glass -to focus -sunlight on the tinder -and make it catch fire?
-Oh, that's a great idea.
-I think I might actually -have one in my bag.
-Oh.
That's wonderful.
-Because, you know, fires -only need to be lit on sunny -days.
-Oh, yeah.
-The magnifying glass method -definitely has limitations.
-You know, -this is all easily remedied -with a simple fire spell.
-Yes.
-Magical fire.
-So easy.
-Any sorcerer can do it.
-All right, well, -then what does the peanut -gallery suggest we do?
-I suggest you leave -my peanuts out of this.
-And start to think about -how ancient humans -might have learned -to start fire without magic -or modern conveniences.
-Okay, well, -we don't know how they did -that, -so, hey, -let's just start doing -a bunch of arbitrary -nonsense.
-Look, -I'm gonna sit over here -rubbing these sticks -together in hopes -that they get hot enough -to spontaneously combust.
-Gene, -how about you -find some rocks and start -smacking them -against each other?
-Because who knows, -maybe they'll -randomly generate a spark.
-Oh, and Brayden, -how about you and Kai?
-I don't know, drill a hole -in a piece of wood -and stick some tinder -in the bottom of the hole, -and then jam -a rod in the top, -forming an airtight seal -so that when you force it -down, maybe the pressure -will ignite the tinder.
-Okay.
-Does that sound -good to you, DJ fur?
-Yes.
Bravo, Renee.
-That sounds very -good.
Well done, mon ami.


- Arts and Music

The Caverns Sessions are taped deep within an underground amphitheater in the Tennessee mountains.












Support for PBS provided by:
Biraland is a local public television program presented by Vermont Public
