Light My Fire

No matches, or lighter out of fuel? Don’t panic…

- Paul Donovan

Fire-lighting is one of the most essential skills in any camping, wilderness, or survival situation. And, depending on the type of tinder you use, there are many ways in which a fire can be lit.

But first let’s get one thing straight; you CAN get a fire going by rubbing two sticks together (fire by friction), but it takes a LOT of practice and elbow grease, and it is time consuming.

So, let’s look at the various options available to you if your lighter has run out of fuel and the matches are wet.

Lighter

Just because the lighter has run out of fuel does not mean that it should be discarded. If the tinder is fine enough, and bone dry (which it should be), or you have some char cloth, even the spark from a lighter is enough to ignite it. And it can be used time and time again.

Ferro rod

This is an extremely popular way of fire lighting, and easily mastered. Basically, a Ferro rod is a metallic material which, when struck with a striker, produces very hot sparks − in excess of 3000oC. Place the tinder on a dry leaf or piece of bark. Place the Ferro rod against the tinder and scrape down the rod with the attached piece of steel, or with the back of a knife, to produce sparks. The sparks will ignite the tinder. Gently blow on it to produce a glowing ember and flame.

Flint and steel