Quest for Fire (also known as Bridging the Gap, Trail Blazer, Outrigger Fire Quest, and Fire Spirits) is a recurring challenge in Survivor that debuted as the very first challenge back in Survivor: Borneo.
Description[]
In most iterations of the challenge, tribes will have a vehicle fitted with a fire cauldron and two torches. The tribes will use the torches to light a series of torches or woks both on land and in the water. All members must have their hands on the raft at all times. The first tribe(s) to reach the finish win(s).
Variations per Season[]
| Episode | Setting | Vehicle Ridden | Obstacles Present | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Raft | Chariot | Canoe | Dilapidated Bridge |
Tower | Army Crawl |
Locked Gate | ||
| Borneo "The Marooning" |
Ocean | ✔ | ||||||
| The Australian Outback "Stranded" |
River | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ||||
| Africa "Question of Trust" |
Desert | ✔ | ||||||
| Marquesas "Back to the Beach" |
Ocean | ✔ | ||||||
| All-Stars "They're Back!" |
Ocean | ✔ | ✔ | |||||
| Cambodia "Second Chance" |
Ocean | ✔ | ✔ | |||||
In The Australian Outback, the tribes would first cross a dilapidated bridge and pull the raft across the river while keeping their torch lit. The first team to climb to the top of a 30-foot tower and ignite it with their torch wins immunity.
In Africa, as the season is filmed in a desert setting as opposed to a beach, a land variant of the challenge is made. The tribes use carts instead of rafts.
In Marquesas, the cauldron is on a separate platform.
In All-Stars, the tribes must start on a floating platform and unclip their raft first. They must then carry the raft while they light every fire wok they pass through, before they go under a bamboo crawl.
In Cambodia, after carrying the raft to the shore and light all the torches, one tribe member must open a gate similar to the Jail Break challenge and finally light the bonfire.
History[]
United States[]
This challenge was used as the inaugural challenge of Borneo for tribal reward and immunity in the form of 50 waterproof matches. Tagi got an early lead, but lost it when Sonja Christopher was unable to keep up with her tribe, causing her to fall and be dragged, allowing Pagong to catch up and eventually win the challenge.
In The Australian Outback, Ogakor took a slight lead after the bridge and extended it on the river crossing after Rodger Bingham of Kucha got his leg caught in a rope. Once Kucha got to the third section, their raft overturned on their torch, putting it out and disqualifying them. Mitchell Olson lit the fire for Ogakor, giving them immunity.
In Africa, after Ethan Zohn and Frank Garrison lit the first fire towers for their tribes, Boran took a slight lead. Clarence Black and Silas Gaither both rushed to the mountaintop to light their second towers before pressing on. Both tribes struggled as players stumbled on both sides on their way to the beach where their third towers are. Shortly after Lex van den Berghe and Frank light their third and final towers, Diane Ogden collapsed to the ground. This sets Boran back and gives Samburu the lead. Although Boran tries to catch up, Samburu is first to cross the finish line and wins reward and immunity.
The was used in Marquesas where the tribes were even until Maraamu dropped their torch in the water, allowing Rotu to win immunity easily.
This challenge was used in All-Stars as the first challenge as well for immunity. Saboga struggled early on and was never able to recover. Chapera finished first, and Mogo Mogo finished shortly after in second.
The challenge re-appeared as the first tribal Immunity Challenge in Cambodia. Even though Ta Keo gained a lead when Keith Nale accidentally extinguished his tribe's flame, Bayon was able to catch up at the Jail Break portion of the challenge when Kelly Wiglesworth had trouble getting the key. Bayon pulled off a come from behind and ultimately won the challenge. During the challenge, Kelley Wentworth found Ta Keo's Hidden Immunity Idol.
France[]
Mexico (Unofficial)[]
The challenge appeared in La Isla 2012, where it was used as the first Immunity Challenge of the season. On their way back to the beach, they had to both light the torches and grab wooden planks, which were used to assemble a ramp at the end, so they could get up to the wok perched atop a tower. The Celebridades and Desconocidos tribes were on par with each other for most of the challenge, while Famosos lagged, mostly in part due to Juanito's poor swimming skills. It came down to the very end, where the Desconocidos were able to put the ramp together quicker, thus earning them the win.
United Kingdom[]
Russia[]
Winners[]
| Episode | Challenge Type | Winners |
|---|---|---|
| Borneo "The Marooning" |
Tribal Reward/Immunity |         Pagong |
| The Australian Outback "Stranded" |
Tribal Reward/Immunity |         Ogakor |
| Africa "Question of Trust" |
Tribal Reward/Immunity |         Samburu |
| Marquesas "Back to the Beach" |
Tribal Immunity |         Rotu |
| All-Stars "They're Back!" |
Tribal Immunity |       Chapera |
      Mogo Mogo | ||
| Cambodia "Second Chance" |
Tribal Reward/Immunity |           Bayon |
| Episode | Challenge Type | Winners |
|---|---|---|
| La Isla 2012 Cycle 1, Episode 2 |
Tribal Immunity |       Desconocidos (2012) |
| Episode | Challenge Type | Winners |
|---|---|---|
| Posledniy Geroy 1 "Turtles and Lizards" |
Tribal Immunity |         Turtles (Posledniy Geroy 1) |
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
- This is the first challenge used in the history of Survivor.
- All six times the challenge has been used in the US version of Survivor, it has been the first Immunity Challenge of the season.
- Every time the challenge was used, the challenge featured some sort of modification.
- Jeff Varner, Kelly Wiglesworth, Kimmi Kappenberg, and everyone who participated in Survivor: All-Stars (with the exceptions of Jenna Morasca, Rob Cesternino, Rupert Boneham, and Shii Ann Huang) have played this challenge twice.
- Amber Brkich, Colby Donaldson, and Kathy Vavrick-O'Brien have won this challenge twice.
- Ethan Zohn, Jeff Varner, Kelly Wiglesworth, and Rudy Boesch have lost this challenge twice.
- This challenge's name is likely a reference to the 1981 film Quest for Fire.
References[]