In the modern world, the majority of people take access to fire for granted. From lighting up a backyard barbecue to cranking up the central heating, we rely on fire for warmth, light, and sustenance. But what happens when these conveniences are not available? When you are out in the wilderness, or in a survival situation, the ability to start a fire can be the difference between life and death.
Read on and take a look at the best 20 ways to start a fire when in a survival situation. We will look at the items you need to gather, the techniques you need to master, and the tips and tricks to ensure that your fire is ready to go when you need it.
1. The Fire Plow
The fire plow is a primitive but effective method of starting a fire. To make a fire plow, you will need a flat piece of wood, a stick with one end carved into a point, and some kindling. Start by carving a groove in the flat piece of wood. Place your pointy stick in the groove and move it back and forth to create friction. Eventually, the friction will generate enough heat to create a spark in the tinder, which can then be used to start the fire.
2. The Hand Drill
The Hand Drill is a very popular method of starting a fire. As the name suggests, this technique requires two hands to work together. You will need a piece of wood with a small depression carved into it, a stick with one end carved into a point, and some tinder. Place the tinder in the depression in the wood and hold the stick in one hand. With the other hand, spin the stick in a circular motion, generating friction and eventually creating a spark.
3. The Bow Drill
The Bow Drill is a slightly more advanced method of starting a fire. This technique requires a piece of wood, a bow, and a stick with one end carved into a point. Place the point end of the stick in the wood, and use the bow to rotate the stick in a circular motion. This will generate friction and eventually create a spark.
4. The Fire Saw
The Fire Saw is a useful technique for starting a fire. This technique requires two pieces of wood and a piece of rope or cord. Place one piece of wood on the ground and tie the rope or cord around the other piece of wood. Hold the top piece of wood in one hand and saw back and forth over the bottom piece of wood. This will create friction and eventually create a spark.
5. The Flint and Steel
The Flint and Steel technique is one of the most reliable methods of starting a fire. This technique requires a flint stone and a piece of steel. Strike the flint stone with the steel to create sparks, which will then ignite the tinder.
6. The Magnifying Glass
The Magnifying Glass technique is a simple but effective method of starting a fire. This technique requires a magnifying glass and some tinder. Focus the sunlight through the magnifying glass onto the tinder, and the heat will create a spark.
7. The Fire Piston
The Fire Piston is a more advanced method of starting a fire. This technique requires a fire piston, which is a metal cylinder with a plunger. Place a small piece of tinder in the cylinder and press the plunger down quickly. This will create a spark, which will then ignite the tinder.
8. The Battery and Steel Wool
The Battery and Steel Wool technique is a simple but effective method of starting a fire. This technique requires a battery, some steel wool, and some tinder. Place the steel wool in the battery and rub it with the battery’s negative and positive terminals. This will create a spark, which will then ignite the tinder.
9. The Fire Starter
The Fire Starter technique is a modern method of starting a fire. This technique requires a fire starter, which is a small block of combustible material. Place the fire starter on top of the tinder and light it. The fire starter will then ignite the tinder.
10. The Fire Piston
The Fire Piston technique is a modern method of starting a fire. This technique requires a fire piston, which is a metal cylinder with a plunger. Place a small piece of tinder in the cylinder and press the plunger down quickly. This will create a spark, which will then ignite the tinder.
11. The Lighter
The Lighter technique is a modern method of starting a fire. This technique requires a lighter and some tinder. Place the tinder in the lighter and light it. The lighter will then ignite the tinder.
12. The Ferro Rod
The Ferro Rod technique is a modern method of starting a fire. This technique requires a ferro rod and some tinder. Place the tinder in the ferro rod and strike it with a knife or other sharp object. This will create sparks, which will then ignite the tinder.
13. The Matches
The Matches technique is a modern method of starting a fire. This technique requires matches and some tinder. Place the tinder in the matchbox and light the match. The match will then ignite the tinder.
14. The Solar Ray
The Solar Ray technique is a modern method of starting a fire. This technique requires a magnifying glass and some tinder. Focus the sunlight through the magnifying glass onto the tinder, and the heat will create a spark.
15. The Flashlight
The Flashlight technique is a modern method of starting a fire. This technique requires a flashlight and some tinder. Place the tinder in the flashlight and turn it on. The flashlight will create heat, which will then ignite the tinder.
16. The Char Cloth
The Char Cloth technique is an ancient method of starting a fire. This technique requires a piece of cloth, a container, and some tinder. Place the piece of cloth in the container and light it. The cloth will char, and the char cloth can then be used to ignite the tinder.
17. The Steel Wool and Battery
The Steel Wool and Battery technique is a modern method of starting a fire. This technique requires a battery, some steel wool, and some tinder. Place the steel wool in the battery and rub it with the battery’s negative and positive terminals. This will create a spark, which will then ignite the tinder.
18. The Fire by Friction
The Fire by Friction technique is an ancient method of starting a fire. This technique requires two pieces of wood and some tinder. Place one piece of wood on the ground and use a stick to saw back and forth over the other piece of wood. This will generate friction and eventually create a spark.
19. The Fire Bow
The Fire Bow technique is a primitive method of starting a fire. This technique requires a bow, a piece of wood with a small depression carved into it, and some tinder. Place the tinder in the depression in the wood and use the bow to rotate the stick in a circular motion. This will generate friction and eventually create a spark.
20. The Fire Thong
The Fire Thong technique is an ancient method of starting a fire. This technique requires a thong, a piece of wood with a small depression carved into it, and some tinder. Place the tinder in the depression in the wood and use the thong to twist the stick in a circular motion. This will generate friction and eventually create a spark.
Knowing how to start a fire is an essential survival skill. In this article, we have taken a look at the best 20 ways to start a fire when in a survival situation. We have looked at the items you need to gather, the techniques you need to master, and the tips and tricks to ensure that your fire is ready to go when you need it. By mastering these techniques, you will be well-prepared for any survival situation.