Fire Starting Techniques: Methods for Starting a Fire Without Matches or a Lighter

Fire is a necessity for survival, whether it be for warmth, cooking, or signaling. The ability to create one without matches is also useful. Never assume that you won't need those useful little red-tipped tools at some point. Like the kid in Hatchet, it's possible that your single-engine aircraft crashes while you're flying over Canada's wilderness. Or perhaps while camping, a bear attacks and you lose your backpack. Even very strong winds or heavy rains can make matches practically useless, so it needn't be something so dramatic.

It was a wet week, and I recall spending a couple of frustrating hours at boy's camp trying to complete my certification by starting a fire with flint and steel and wet tinder. My face was covered in soot and my eyes were burning from the smoke, but I was happy that I had succeeded in my mission. Here are a few tried-and-true techniques that will give you a warm fire if you ever need one, in the unlikely event that you never need to start a fire without matches. It was a wet week, and I recall spending a couple of frustrating hours at girl's camp trying to start a fire with flint and steel and wet tinder. My face was covered in soot afterward, and the smoke made my eyes water, but I was happy that I had succeeded in my mission. Ideally, you won't ever need to start a fire without matches, but just in case, here are a few tried-and-true techniques that will give you a warm fire if you ever need one.

You Must Have The Tinder Ready

Get a variety of tinder, including lint, small twigs, dried grass, and wood shavings. You must always start with tinder when building a fire, regardless of the technique you select. To create a bird's nest, loosely ball the tinder to allow for plenty of airflow. Have a lot of larger sticks on hand for when the fire begins to grow.

Applying Sparks

Use some magnesium and a flint block: Spread some shavings of magnesium on your tinder and light it with the flint. Your tinder will hopefully catch fire when the magnesium ignites. Hold the tinder in your hands once it starts to smoke so that oxygen can enter through the bottom and gently blow from underneath.

Solar Energy Use

In the sun, use a magnifying glass. To ensure that the tinder pile is the object of focus, tilt the magnifying glass in the sun over the pile. If the tinder starts to smoke, you can help it catch fire by gently blowing on it from the bottom. If their focal point is bright enough, broken glass, bottles, or eyeglasses may also be used.

Using a Battery

Steel wool and a 6 volt battery are needed. Create a loose mass of wool by tearing it, then touch it to both battery charges. By doing this, the circuit will be completed, a spark will be produced, and the steel wool will glow. You can place it on the tinder once it's hot enough until it catches.

Using Friction

Insert the tip of a straight stick into the groove in some flat wood or bark. Both of these pieces should be free of sap and moisture. While the stick's point rubs against the other piece of wood, vigorously rub it between your hands. The wood will eventually heat up and produce a tiny ember that you can place in the tinder nest.

Video: 13 Ways To Start A Fire