January’s Skill – Fire Starting

One of the most basic skills that any prepper should know is how to start a fire.  But don’t just assume though that because you’ve started a fire before that you’re good.

I’m betting if I asked those of you reading this article, “How many of you have started a fire?”  The very vast majority of you would indicate that you have.

But let’s take it a step further.

How many of you have started a fire ……..

(1) Outside

(2) In the rain or snow

(3) Without matches or any type of lighter

(4) Using more than three different methods of fire starting (at different times)

(5) And kept it going for 24 hours or more.

Now as we went down that list, I’m guessing fewer and fewer of you would still be able to answer in the affirmative.

So today, I want to do two things.

First off, I want to share different fire starting techniques that you can employ in different situations.  Secondly, I want to set up a challenge.  I want to challenge you this month to start a fire (safely) at least 3 times, using a different technique each time, and keep those fires going for at least an hour.

Basic Needs to Start a Fire

Before you use one of the methods below to get a spark, you’ll need certain things to actually get your fire going.

(1) Tinder bundle or char cloth

A tinder bundle is a fist-sized bunch of light dry materials that are easily flammable.  If you’re interested in seeing how to construct a tinder bundle, check it out here.  This is what is meant to catch the spark from your fire starting efforts and techniques below.  Once this catches the spark, it should be blown gently into a flame.

(2) Small kindling

Small kindling should be about the width of a pencil or a little less, dry and light.  This should catch fire pretty easily.

Once your tinder bundle is caught on fire, you’ll use this small kindling, placing it over your tinder bundle.

(3) Large kindling

Large kindling should be about the width of your pointer finger.

When your small kindling is caught, then you add slightly larger kindling over that.  Making sure that at any given time that you don’t overload your smaller kindling and you leave plenty of room for oxygen to circulate.

(4) Small Logs

These should be about half the width of your wrist.

(5) Logs or split wood

Once the small logs have caught then feel free to start putting larger logs on.  The trick when you get to larger logs is that you have to make sure that the oxygen will still circulate.  Don’t lay them flat over the top, but put them on at an angle where the oxygen can still get underneath and part of the log without just simply smushing the whole thing causing it to collapse and voiding the whole inside of the fire of oxygen causing it to go out.

Fire Starting Methods (other than matches)

Foil and 9 Volt Battery

You can actually do this with any battery, but a 9-volt is easier because the positive terminal and negative terminal are close to one another instead of at the opposite end of the battery like all other types.

Cut a small piece of foil that is slightly longer than the distance between the positive and the negative terminals of the battery and just slightly wider than the terminals.  Once you have your small wood piles together (listed below under basic needs to start a fire), you can touch the foil to the terminals and once it sparks, drop this into your tinder bundle.

Magnifying Glass

When you were a child, did you ever try to use a magnifying glass to burn a hole in a leaf or something similar?  Yep.  That’s all you’re going to do except that you’re going to focus the suns rays toward your tinder bundle using the magnifying glass.

Water and Zippered Bag

This works on the exact same principle as the magnifying glass. The water in the baggie will refract the light aiming the sun’s rays at your tinder bundle.  Want to see this in action?  Here’s a great YouTube video.

Flint and steel / ferro rod

Here is an excellent video for someone who has never used a flint and steel before.https://youtu.be/u6diTROxK7I

Hand drill technique

(You get double kudos for this one)

What About You?

Have you tried other methods of making fire?  Do you have tips that you’ve learned that will make one of these methods of starting a fire easier?  Share them with us in the comments below.

Together lets Love, Learn, Practice, Overcome

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