How to Build an Emergency Fire for Warmth

The ability to build a fire for warmth in an emergency is one of the most basic survival skills you can learn. Like most people, chances are good you'll have access to matches or a lighter during an emergency, so even in the case of total non-preparedness you can build a fire. However, to increase your odds of survival, you may want to carry around a magnifying glass just in case matches aren't readily available.

Instructions

Difficulty: Challenging

Things You’ll Need:

• matches or lighter
• magnifying glass
• dry tinder
• small rock with smooth indentation

1. Choose a safe location to build your fire. A place that is rocky or sandy, and near water if possible. You'll want to build a fire that can't easily spread.
2. Find dry tinder. Collect small twigs and grasses as well as bigger pieces of dry branches and wood for when the fire gets going.
3. Pile the tinder in a tepee shape, like cross stitches or a lean-to. Allow the fuel air to breathe. Give the structure a little "doorway" through which you can light the fuel.
4. Use the flint-and-steel method to create sparks. Find a small rock with a smooth indentation and a small, dry branch. Quickly rub the wood back and forth in your hands as you press one end of it into the rock. Keep small pieces of dried leaves and twigs handy. As soon as the sawdust you form starts glowing red, put the small tinder on it to keep the flame alive.
5. Use the electric spark from a battery as another way to get a spark for fire, or use a cigarette lighter. A little gasoline will make the fire start faster.
6. Use the rays of the sun focused through a magnifying glass on dry twigs, bark and grass to start your survival fire.
7. Put the glowing tinder inside your little lean-to or tepee and start blowing on your fire. Soon your fire will be large enough that you can put bigger branches and pieces of wood on it. Then sit back, warm your toes and fingers, and enjoy your fire.

Tips & Warnings

• Wooden matches can be waterproofed by dipping them into nail polish.
• Be sure to choose a place to build your fire that is safe, like a sandy or rocky place near water. Observe fire safety rules wherever you are, especially during dry seasons when building fires may be illegal.