Starting a fire is a necessary skill we at Surviving Tactics believe everyone should learn, especially those who spend a lot of time outdoors. Lighting a fire with matches or a lighter is relatively easy. However, starting one without matches will require techniques that are difficult but doable.
There are several reasons why you will need to build a fire when camping:
- Making meals
- Keeping warm
- Keeping animals away
Materials you will need
- Tinder. This refers to any dry material you can use to start a fire, like dry grass, pine needles, pine cone, dried leaves, punk wood, birch bark, dried animal dung, and palm balk. Toilet paper and cotton balls with petroleum jelly will also work. Tinder should be small enough to fit into a cupped hand but not shorter than your outstretched hand. Building a fire without matches will require you to use the best tinder, especially when the wood is wet.
- Kindling. Kindling is the small pieces of wood you add to the tinder to build a fire. Cedar, pine, and fir make the best kindlin because they are soft. However, any type of small dry stick can work.
- Fuel. Fuel here means wood. You will need to ensure the wood you choose is not green wood or fresh wood. This is because fresh wood takes longer to burn and has excessive smoke. Firewood from kiln wood or any dead tree will burn best. The wood should be at least as thick as your wrist. You can use oak, beech, cherry, or ash.
- Fire pit. A fire pit helps to contain the flame. Though portable fire pits are ideal, you may not have access to one. Nevertheless, you can build your own fire pit using stones.
Common Fire-starting Methods
To build a fire, you need fuel, oxygen, and heat. Now that we have the fuel and the oxygen is supplied by nature, let us look at how we can produce the heat.
Flint and Steel Method
This is one of the most primitive ways to start a fire. It dated back to the Iron Age and became obsolete when matches came into play. However, this very primitive method is a lifesaver when you are in a situation where all you have is flint.
Flint refers to any hard rock with a shiny surface, such as quartz, jasper, agate, and chert. They are ideal for use in this method. Choose a rock that fits on your hand. You can use small stones and strike them together using your fingers. However, using steel against the stone creates bigger sparks and starts a fire.
To use this method, place some tinder on top of the wood and strike the steel against the stone. Direct the sparks toward the tinder and blow into the fire to spread the flames.
Fire Bow Method
For the fire bow method, you will need:
- A study piece of wood for the bow.
- String like a paracord for the bowstring.
- A flat piece of soft, dead wood.
- A long piece of dry, dead softwood you will use as the spindle.
- Rock, bone, or wood to hold the spindle.
To use this method:
- Tie your string to the bow.
- Curve blunt ends on your spindle and a hole on the flat board where your spindle will enter.
- Place the spindle on the flat board, using the rock, bone, or wood to hold it in place.
- Move the bow back and forth on the spindle until a fire starts. You can do this next to your tinder or transfer the fire using a leaf or piece of wood.
Hand Drill Method
For this method, you will need a flat piece of wood. You can curve a piece of wood to give it a flat surface. You will also need a spindle.
To use this method:
- Curve out v-shaped holes on the flat piece of wood. The holes should be the right fit for the spindle.
- Place it on your tinder and start rubbing the spindle back and forth to create friction and start a fire.
Using the Sun
The sun is an amazing source of heat, and you can use it to start a fire using ice, plastic, or glass lens. To use this method, direct your surface to the sun and ensure the shiniest or brightest part of the light is on your tinder. Gently blow on the flame to spread the fire.
If you are using a plastic bottle or balloon, fill it with water and hold it toward the sun to get the same beam as with the lens, and hold the beam under the tinder until it ignites.
If it has Rained
Split the wood and the tinder to expose the dry wood on the inside. Start your fire low, facing the windward side(facing the wind). Go for a taller-shaped set-up like the tepee. A flat one will prevent the wood from heating up faster.
Finally
Extinguish your fire when you have finished using it. Do not leave the fire still kindling. Additionally, clean up around the fire. Collect any trash and throw it in the next trash can you will find. Above all, adhere to safety rules and take the necessary steps to prevent your fire pit from becoming a wildfire.
