How to Start a Fire without Matches
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Desperate times call for desperate measures. In many survival situations, a fire is needed to help cook whatever food you have collected, keep you warm, and to help ward off any predators nearby. Here are some of the ingredients that you need in order to build up a fire, with or without matches.
There are five different types of wood you need to gradually build up a fire in survival situations. They are:
1) Tinder – This is the most important part of the fire. To start a fire, unless you have a fire-lighter, you must have a ball of tinder that is around the size of a grapefruit.
2) Kindling - After the tinder begins to burn, adding some kindling in the form of sticks and leaves that are bone-dry will catch flame. They should be as thick as a pencil.
3) Small Fuel - When both the tinder and the kindling are burning well, adding sticks will take the flames to a fully-burning fire.
4) Main Fuel - This acts as the main fuel for the fire. Thicker than your finger, the size of this wood is the type mainly used for campfires.
5) Large Fuel - These are used to keep an established fire going all night. Large fuel primarily consists of thick logs.
Since you know the different types of wood needed, now it’s time to teach you what can be used to make the spark and gradually build the fire. Here are six ways to quickly create a spark to light the wood:
1) Waterproof Matches – This is the most obvious kind, but you may not be so grateful in survival situations.
2) Flint and Steel - The steel saw and magnesium alloy “flint”, producing large sparks.
3) Magnifying Glass - The larger the magnifying glass,the better. Sun is needed, so location is key.
4) Cotton Wool - Cotton wool soaked in kerosene is an alternative to tinder.
5) Paraffin Sticks - Paraffin sticks can be used as large sticks without the need for tinder.
6) FIre Sticks - These are wood sticks combined with fire that can be lit with a match to start a fire without any tinder.
If you do not have any of the six items above in your possession, one of the best ways to light the fire is by the Hand Drill method, which is demonstrated in the picture above. You may have seen this in many survival shows and movies before.
Starting a fire is recommended to only be used in survival situations. Fires are dangerous and without the proper preparation and experience may result in destruction of property and severe medical conditions.
