Although once an essential skill, the ability to start a fire without matches or modern devices like cigarette lighters is all but lost. Nevertheless, anyone can learn how to do this and successfully start a fire in any weather.
Fire is really pretty simple, having just three ingredients: fuel, oxygen and heat. So how do you get enough heat to ignite wood, for example, without matches or a lighter? Here are the most common ways.
The American Indians used friction to generate that heat – well actually to generate a small hot coal. They did this by rubbing wood or other dry woody kinds of materials together. The most common approach to doing this is with the use of a bow and drill or even just a drill, made out of wood. By spinning the wooden drill very quickly against another piece of wood, this tiny hot coal can be generated. It is exhilarating to learn to start a fire this way, but everyone who has will tell you this is the hardest way to start a fire. For that reason, they usually carry a better method with them. Perhaps this is the most important lesson to learn about fire starting.
By keeping a small fire striker with you at all times, you can assure yourself that you’ll always be able to start fire. Fire strikers consist of a steel piece and a striker which can produce sufficient spark to light tinder. Good quality strikers will actually produce a shower of sparks. There are many on the market, it comes down to which style is most comfortable for you. The great thing about a good fire steel is that it will produce sparks, even when wet.
When it comes to tinder, there are numerous natural materials that work well. Dead moss, bark shavings and dead grass are just a few of the possibilities. Those that are really serious about fire starting might want to consider carrying some tinder with them, just to be prepared. Whatever method you use, practice makes perfect. Develop your skill enough so that you’ll be able to get the results you want under any circumstances.
Griz Garzo writes about wilderness survival and primitive skills. We hope you enjoyed this article about firestarting.
