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To survive in the woods, learning how to start a fire is essential. Fire offers warmth, protection, and a place to cook and sterilize tools in an emergency. However, matches and lighters can be fickle—and easy to lose or get wet! In this guide, we'll teach you 9 different ways to start a fire with common (and not-so-common) gear you should have in your pack!
Things You Should Know
- Start a fire without a match or a lighter by gathering dry grass, leaves, or sticks to make tinder. Create friction by rubbing a stick against dry wood to ignite a spark.
- Rub both prongs of a 9-volt battery against a piece of steel wool to create friction and ignite a spark. Transfer the spark to a pile of dry tinder to start a fire.
- Focus a strong beam of sunlight through eyeglasses, binoculars, and or a resealable bag filled with water at a pile of tinder to spark a fire.
Steps
Expert Q&A
- QuestionHow do I find flint? What does it look like?
Britt EdelenBritt Edelen comes to How.com.vn after graduating in 2019 from Brown University, where he studied English and German literature and philosophy. While at Brown he contributed frequently to campus publications and worked in the university’s Writing Center. More recently, he has had several articles published in various journals devoted to literary criticism. During his time at How.com.vn, Britt supervised and collaborated with writers and editors to continue producing high-quality content and promote How.com.vn’s mission of enabling everyone to learn anything.
BA in English Literature, Brown UniversityFlint looks shiny and gray and it almost feels like pencil lead. You can find it by looking around rocks. It should be easy to scratch off, but it shouldn't come off in chunks. It should come off in shavings. - QuestionHow long do the different methods take?
Community AnswerUsing a hand drill takes 30+ minutes. A bow drill would take 5-10 minutes while using steel wool would only take 2-3 minutes. A magnifying glass would also take about 10-15 minutes. - QuestionWhat if I don't have anything with me?
Community AnswerThen the hand drill is your best bet. Try to find a base log that already has a small hole, and a pointed stick. That should be all you need.
Video
Tips
- Make sure the wood is extremely dry before attempting any friction methods.Thanks
- Cottonwood, juniper, aspen, willow, cedar, cypress, and walnut are ideal for creating your fire board and spindle sets.Thanks
- Nurturing an ember or spark into a flame is the most difficult part of starting a fire. Be sure to blow gently during this step.Thanks
Tips from our Readers 
- Try to save leftover embers and keep them warm to start your next fire fast.
Warnings
- Be aware of sparks and embers that may fly off when creating friction.Thanks
- Be sure to put out your fire using water or by smothering it with sand or dirt before leaving the fire site unattended.Thanks
- Always remember to be careful when dealing with fire.Thanks
References
- ↑ https://www.wiredforadventure.com/how-to-start-fire-with-natural-materials/
- ↑ https://www.mensjournal.com/adventure/bushcraft-how-to-start-a-fire-with-flint-and-steel
- ↑ https://www.selfrelianceoutfitters.com/blogs/survival-blog/identifying-flint-in-wild
- ↑ https://www.outdoorlife.com/blogs/survivalist/2012/02/survival-skills-how-build-hand-drill-fire/
- ↑ https://www.masterclass.com/articles/fire-bow-drill
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=228&v=sgKWwGv6y-E&feature=youtu.be
- ↑ https://gosciencekids.com/index.html%3Fp=1540.html
- ↑ https://www.primitiveways.com/ice-fire.html
- ↑ https://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/gear/a22007/making-fire-with-a-plastic-bag/
About This Article
To make a fire without matches or a lighter, try using a stick and a piece of bark. To start, gather some tinder and small dry, sticks, which you’ll use as a base for your fire. When you have your materials, use a knife or a sharp object to cut a small, v-shaped notch in a dry log or piece of wood. Then, place a piece of bark beneath this notch to catch the embers. Place a stick in the notch, and rub your palms together around it to roll it and create friction. Continue doing this until your bark starts to smolder, then transfer the bark to your tinder pile. You can also start a fire with a piece of steel wool and a battery. First, take a piece of steel wool and rub it against the 2 terminals on the end of the battery, which will create friction. When the steel wool starts to glow, blow gently on it to encourage the flame to spread. Then, transfer the steel wool to your tinder and add increasingly larger pieces of dry wood to build the fire. To learn how to use a magnifying glass to start a fire, read on!
Reader Success Stories
"I really enjoyed the whole article. It was full of information. I did wish they would show more creative ways of building fires. For instance, starting a fire with a lemon or using sugar. There are some weird ways of starting fire."..." more
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