I arrive home with my
bright shiny new soot-blackened 2nd hand Kelly Kettle. And it was raining. Perfect for testing it.
Being scientific, I measured the tap water - 4 mugs, 2 pints worth of the finest
spring York water.
Out into the yard, set it up on a stone under a holly bush. Rain pouring down. Start timer.
Gather leaves, twigs, whatever I could grab that wasn't absolutely soaked.
Light fire in base of kettle, get it actually burning and put kettle on top.
5minutes.
Fire is going well, some flames shooting out of top, add some bigger twigs, up to 1/2" diameter.
Water seems to be steaming slightly.
Bubbles appear. Check timer. 9 minutes exactly - 4 minutes since I lit the fire. Turn back to kettle and it is boiling over!
So that's 4 minutes from lighting a fire with damp twigs and leaves to having 2 pints of water at a furious boil.
Picture to be added when I find my card reader.
See that white stuff? That's steam, that is, not smoke. 4minutes after lighting. I'm well impressed.