Fire

A robo-dog capable of throwing 30-ft flames from its back might seem the stuff of sci-fi nightmares, but such terrors were made real last year with the launch of the Thermonator. Now the fire-breathing quadruped is available to buy for under $10k.

High-density lithium batteries hold vast amounts of energy – and when they drop their guts, they can do so in absolutely spectacular destructive fashion. So researchers have built fire extinguishing capabilities right into the cells themselves.

Portable LPG fire pits are a great way to get the ambiance of a campfire when you can't burn wood, but they can come up short in heat. Howl Campfires looks to solve the problem with a portable pit that spits out a wood fire's worth of radiant heat.

As any car-chase action movie will tell you, the gasoline used in our vehicles is flammable, explosive stuff. Scientists have created a new combustible fuel, however, which stays safely non-flammable for transport and storage.

DeepBlue's new Ti-capsule multi-tool is a thumb-size titanium capsule that comes with a series of interchangeable tools. Most notable is the kerosene lighter that gives you a reliable fire-starting option that fits in your smallest pocket.

It's just not camping without the campfire, but local burning restrictions can stamp out any hopes of a wood fire. The new Firestorm is a portable gas fire pit that provides a solution, collapsing into a series of components for easy packing.

A big, solid drum of a fire pit really isn't very convenient to transport in a loaded camping vehicle. Baird Built integrates smokeless design into a more portable fire pit platform that breaks down into a series of panels for near-flat transport.

If you thought that putting a rifle on a robotic dog was daft enough, what about one with an actual flamethrower on its back? Not just a concept, Throwflame is taking preorders for its Thermonator flamethrower-wielding quadruped robot.

A couple of years ago, Ignik lit up impromptu campsites everywhere with the FireCan, a compact, portable gas fire pit shaped like an ammo can. The new FireCan Deluxe features that same design, but with the added bonus of grill hardware.

A fire starter is always a good survival tool to bring on wilderness treks. The Infinity multi-tool includes such a gadget, along with offering several other functions – plus it's made from everyone's favorite outdoor-gear material, titanium.

Recently, Solo Stove has rolled out cooking accessories to go with its impressive smokeless fire pits, and the Pi Fire is the latest to join the party, promising crunchy crusts and delicious pies cooked over open flames.

Scientists have discovered the earliest evidence of cooking food through controlled use of fire, dating back 780,000 years. An archeological site in Israel contains fish remains that, on closer examination, show clear signs of having been cooked.