Tutorials/Defeating a Nether fortress

Nether fortresses are dangerous for unprepared players, as they have many dangers, including blazes, wither skeletons, and many rooms that are easy to get lost in.

Reasons for defeating a nether fortress
There are several benefits of defeating a nether fortress:
 * To get blaze rods.
 * To set up a blaze farm or/and a wither skeleton farm.
 * To get wither skeleton skulls to summon the wither or for decoration.

Item loadout

 * At least iron sword.
 * A bow.
 * At least a stack of arrows.
 * At least a full set of iron armor.
 * A diamond pickaxe.
 * At least 1 golden apple.
 * Highly nutritious food, such as cooked porkchop or steak.
 * At least two stacks of cobblestone.
 * At least a stack of torches
 * A crafting table, a chest and  a furnace to set up a nether base
 * A crossbow (optional).