How to Light a Fire (Without Using Matches)

Everyone should have a lighter in their first aid kits. No question about it. A lighter will be easier to light, especially in wet environments.

1. 
   1
   Place tinder on stone, concrete or ash or in a fire pit. Tinder should be small, dry twigs and leaves.
   Ad
2. 
   2
   Place larger sticks in a tepee shape around the fire, while leave a small opening where you can reach the tinder.
3. 
   3
   Hold the lighter sideways and perpendicular to the ground. This is important so you don't get burned.
4. 
   4
   Light the flame, then place the flame on the edge of the tinder.
5. 
   5
   Watch as the flame lights the tinder, but do not do anything to the fire just yet. If the fire begins to go out, you can place newspaper on top to keep it going. With larger fires, you can use cardboard as a fan and get a little more oxygen into them.

An "optical lens" refers to a magnifying glass, or something similar with a convex lens, such as spectacles, a pair of binoculars or a camera lens.

1. 
   1
   Use this method on a good day. It requires a sunny day in order to start.
   • The sun goes from east to west. This means it will be optimal to light if you held the magnifying glass according to the time of day. In the morning, you should hold it when sitting to the east - while in the afternoon, you should hold it when sitting to the west.
2. 
   2
   Place a small bed of dry tinder in a fire pit or on stone.
3. 
   3
   Hold a magnifying glass 4–12 inches (10.2–30.5 cm) above the fire.
4. 
   4
   Look at the sun's light on the tinder. Move the magnifying glass up/down until the beam of light becomes a concentrated point.
5. 
   5
   When the point has been made, hold the magnifying glass steady.
6. 
   6
   After about 1-2 minutes, the fire should ignite. If not, your tinder may be too wet, or the sun might not be fully out.
7. 
   7
   After your fire begins to burn, place twigs on the fire every five seconds. Increase the stick size (diameter, mostly) every 2-3 minutes, until you have a full fire.

This method is very difficult and sometimes very painful. Only do this in an actual situation with practice!

1. 
   1
   Have a pile of dry tinder to start over to the side, not in your working area.
2. 
   2
   Place the first stick on the ground.
3. 
   3
   Make a small hole that does not go completely through the first stick. Make sure that your second stick is able to fit inside that hole.
4. 
   4
   Place your second stick inside the hole. It should be fairly straight without many notches.
5. 
   5
   Place flat palms on both sides of the stick. With a very fast alternating motion, move one hand forward, one hand back, then go the other way. Repeat this.
6. 
   6
   After about 3-20 minutes, the first stick should begin to smoke. Keep going! Don't slow down! The stick should light slightly after.
7. 
   7
   Use the sticks as candles and light the tinder. Place the two sticks on top and make a tepee as before.
   • Put a little petroleum jelly or steel wool in the hole if it's still too hard to light.

1. 
   1
   Make a pile of dry tinder. Collect dry small twigs, dried grass, dry moss, lichen, etc. for kindling. Also gather thin pieces of wood for when the kindling is burning well.
2. 
   2
   Choose a safe place to pile the tinder. Clear away flammable items and steer clear of tents, trees, etc.
3. 
   3
   Find two small stones.
4. 
   4
   Strike the two stones together next to the tinder. Keep striking until sparks from the stones hit the tinder and catch.
5. 
   5
   Blow on the fire. This will help it to take hold.
6. 
   6
   When it has really taken, add the kindling. Once the kindling is burning nicely, add the first wood.

1. 
   1
   Make a pile of dry tinder. Collect dry small twigs, dried grass, dry moss, lichen, etc. for kindling. Also gather thin pieces of wood for when the kindling is burning well.
2. 
   2
   Choose a safe place to pile the tinder. Clear away flammable items and steer clear of tents, trees, etc.
3. 
   3
   Find some flint. Some locations have more flint than others. It will work best if it has a sharp edge.
4. 
   4
   Find some metal. A pocket knife is often handy when camping.
5. 
   5
   Strike the metal item against the flint. Position yourself next to the tinder. Strike until sparks start the tinder burning.
6. 
   6
   Blow on the fire. This will help it to take hold.
7. 
   7
   When it has really taken, add the kindling. Once the kindling is burning nicely, add the first wood.

1. 
   1
   Make a pile of dry tinder. Collect dry small twigs, dried grass, dry moss, lichen, etc. for kindling. Also gather thin pieces of wood for when the kindling is burning well.
2. 
   2
   Choose a safe place to pile the tinder. Clear away flammable items and steer clear of tents, trees, etc.
3. 
   3
   Find two batteries and two wires.
4. 
   4
   Attach one wire to each terminal of one of the batteries.
5. 
   5
   Hold this battery close to the tinder.
6. 
   6
   Touch the ends of the wires to the opposite terminals of the other batteries. Keep over the tinder and wait for the sparks created to catch the tinder.
7. 
   7
   Blow on the fire. This will help it to take hold.
8. 
   8
   When it has really taken, add the kindling. Once the kindling is burning nicely, add the first wood.
   Ad