Building a Fire
Fire is difficult to make without matches, or lighters. It will take some innovative thinking to make fire without these luxuries. I will describe three techniques you can use. One of the most common ways is finding two sticks and rubbing them together. Another is to use a magnify glass. Lastly, you might have some steel in your pocket that you can hit against some rock or flint to make sparks. Magnifying Glass When you are lost you may not have a magnifying glass with you. You can use eye glasses, water bottles, or magnifying glasses attached to compasses to focus the sun light and light a fire. Take the magnifying glass and use the sun to make a point of light on the ground. Point it at a pile of dry grass and hold it there until you see smoke. Blow on the small embers and add more tinder to make the fire grow. |
Rubbing Sticks Rubbing two sticks together is an age old technique that is not used very often anymore. This method utilizes friction as a way to produce fire. It is probably one of the the least effective ways, but when all else falls its there. The basics begin with finding two sticks. Take one of the sticks and use a rock or knife to cut its edge down to a point. Then with the other stick, cut a slit in the side that will hold the pointed end of the first stick. At this point you can start to rub your first stick into the slit vigorously. Keep rubbing, until smoke starts to emerge then put dry leaves or other flammable material on and continue to rub. Once you see an ember, blow lightly till flames start to come. Flint and Steel
The flint and steel method is useful if you carry the right tools. Keys, rocks, knifes, and hatchets can all be used to start a fire. The ideal tools are steel and flint. However, you can improvise by using a blade and a rock. Take your tool and hit it fast and hard against a rock. A blade can be thrown against a large rock or rock wall to produce sparks. As you strike, aim the sparks into dry grass or leaves. Once the dry tinder lights, blow gently until the flame starts to grow. |