How to Start a Fire Without Matches or a Lighter
Naturally, the easiest way to start a campfire or bonfire is using a lighter or matches, but if you prefer a chemical-free approach, or if you just don't have these materials on hand, you'll need a different option. You can start a fire using either a magnifying glass or with a spark from a flint stone.
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Things You'll Need
- Firewood
- Kindling
- Tinder (paper, birch bark, or dry grass)
- Magnifying glass
- Flint
- Steel flint starter
- Char cloth
Instructions
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Magnifying Glass
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1
Make a pile of the starter fire material (paper, birch bark or dry grass). Place the kindling twigs in a loose pile on top of this. Lean the larger sticks over this pile in a conical shape. Do this in a sunny, dry area.
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2
Lie on your stomach on the ground with your head a foot away from the pile. Position yourself with the sun behind you. Brace yourself with your elbow on the ground and hold the magnifying glass in your hand; this will steady it.
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3
Observe the shape of the sunlight beam as it's amplified through the magnifying glass and shines onto the fire pile. Move your arm until the beam is cast on the starter material. Angle your wrist to focus the beam down to the smallest white pinprick on the material.
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4
Hold the magnifying glass as steady as possible and wait. Eventually, the heat of the sun will cause the starter material to ignite.
Flint
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5
Make a pile of the starter fire material (paper, birch bark or dry grass). Place the kindling twigs in a loose pile on top of this. Lean the larger sticks over this pile in a conical shape.
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6
Cut a piece of char cloth just big enough to wrap around the flint stone.
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7
Wrap and grip the stone in the char cloth. Leave one edge of the stone uncovered.
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8
Scrape the steel vigorously and quickly, but with force, against the exposed portion of the flint. Do this repeatedly; sparks will start to fly. When one of the sparks starts to glow against the char cloth, blow on it to see whether it will grow. Repeat until you have a spark that's burning on the cloth.
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9
Place the char cloth amid the starter material in your fire pile. Blow on it gently until it ignites.
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