How To Start A Fire Without Matches Or A Lighter

Written by Griz Garzo 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. Fuel, oxygen and heat are the essential elements for fire. In this article, we'll especially consider your options for generating sufficient heat to ignite wood, since that is the most likely fuel you would be relying on in a survival situation. Without a flame from a match or lighter, how can you generate enough heat to start fire? First, you could use an old method the Indians used - rubbing sticks together. Well, it's a bit more involved than it sounds, but nevertheless, that's the idea. Friction between pieces of wood can in fact create a coal which can then be used to ignite tinder. The most common way to do this is with a drill or bow and drill combination. We'll look more closely at this method in a future article. Here's the bottom line - people who have learned to start a fire this way carry with them another method since they understand just how much work is involved in starting fire this way. So let's turn to another method - sparks. The right kind of steel can be useful to create enough sparks to light tinder. It can be a very small piece making it convenient to carry with you, ready for use at any time. One real benefit in the use of a fire steel is that if it's good quality, it will work even if it's wet. There are all kinds of them on the market, it just depends upon your favorite style. In closing, a quick word about tinder. There are many natural materials, such as bark shavings, dead moss gathered from trees, and dry grass. If you're serious enough about being skilled at fire starting that you're willing to carry a fire steel, you might also consider keeping a tiny container with tinder in it - such as cotton mixed with Vaseline. In any case, even with a fire striker, practice is essential to become skilled enough to be able to start a fire under any conditions.