From Neolithic times, man learned how to create fire by creating friction with tools, such as saws and drills and by producing sparks with stones such as flint. Whether in the desert, tropics, or polar regions, a fire will provide warmth and dry clothes, it will cook food and heat drinks, it will keep wild animals at bay and ward off insects. Sometimes it even provides a great morale booster.
> Build a stone wall around one side of your fire to concentrate the heat in a specific direction. The fire can be built in a dug hole if wind is likely to be a problem.
— ALEXANDER STILWELL, THE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF SURVIVAL TECHNIQUES
> A large ferro rod is ideal as it will perform in any environment, even after being submerged in water and is able to be used with relative ease in frigid temperatures when loss of dexterity may be an issue.
— CLINT JIVOIN, WILLOW HAVEN OUTDOOR
> Oftentimes the lost survivor can “go to water to find fire.” There are several species of trees with wood that is ideal and soft enough for making primitive fire that tend to grow near water, such as cottonwood, basswood, and willow.
— CLINT JIVOIN, WILLOW HAVEN OUTDOOR
> When selecting materials for a bow drill fire, remember the “rule of thumb.” Press your thumb nail into the selected dry piece of wood. If it leaves an indention it is likely that the material will support combustion.
— CLINT JIVOIN, WILLOW HAVEN OUTDOOR
> The inner bark of many species of trees can be processed to make excellent fire tinder. Mixing in a fuel extender such as a petroleum or beeswax will allow the tinder to burn longer.
— CLINT JIVOIN, WILLOW HAVEN OUTDOOR
> Tossing some sage into the fire will keep you bug-free all night.
— KEITH BRADFORD, LIFE HACKS
> Doritos and Fritos make excellent kindling.
— KEITH BRADFORD, LIFE HACKS
> Birch bark and pitch wood both have a strong resin that can easily be lit, even when wet.
— GREG DAVENPORT, SURVIVING COLD WEATHER
> As a general rule, the lower branches on a tree — called squaw wood — are considered dead, not green, when they snap away from the trunk. Live frozen branches snap too, so if a meaty cambium layer is present under the bark, the branch is green.
— GREG DAVENPORT, SURVIVING COLD WEATHER
> Some tinder bundles can go up in smoke pretty fast. If your bundle is too small, your window of opportunity to get other more substantial kindling materials lit is very short. I always try to start with a tinder bundle at least the size of a softball.
— CREEK STEWART, BUILD THE PERFECT BUG OUT SURVIVAL SKILLS
> The most reliable tinder is cotton balls or dryer lint mixed with petroleum jelly. The cotton balls are flammable by themselves, but the petroleum jelly acts as a fire extender, allowing the flame to burn longer.
— CREEK STEWART, BUILD THE PERFECT BUG OUT SURVIVAL SKILLS
> A small dry bird’s nest or a small rodent nest make perfect tinder bundles.
— CHRISTOPHER NYERGES, HOW TO SURVIVE ANYWHERE
> Wrap your disposable lighters in a dozen layers of duct tape. It will make the lighter more durable and provide you with a length of duct tape when you need it.
— ALEXANDER STILWELL, THE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF SURVIVAL TECHNIQUES
> Once sparked, sandwich your glowing tinder in between two pieces of bark to avoid burning your hands; plus the bark, if large enough, provides a great wind break.
— CREEK STEWART, BUILD THE PERFECT BUG OUT SURVIVAL SKILLS
> A great fire to build in a windy environment is a Dakota fire hole, basically a small tunnel connecting two holes, one where the fire is burning, while the tunnel to the other hole provides a steady flow of air to feed the fire. It isn’t much for warmth, but is a great fire to cook with.
— CREEK STEWART, BUILD THE PERFECT BUG OUT SURVIVAL SKILLS
> You should have flares in your emergency kit. They are easy to light and last for up to 15 minutes, guaranteeing a campfire in all but the very worst conditions. It is a great signal tool as well.
— CHRISTOPHER NYERGES, HOW TO SURVIVE ANYWHERE
> A fire can be started by attaching jumper cables to a car battery and slowly bringing the other ends together in a pile of tinder. The spark from the cables should ignite the tinder easily.
— CHRISTOPHER NYERGES, HOW TO SURVIVE ANYWHERE
Editors Note: A version of this article first appeared in the May 2015 print issue of American Survival Guide.