If you've found yourself in a situation where you need to build a fire, but are without a standard source of flame, such as a lighter or matches, don't despair—you may still be able to build a fire with the materials you have on hand or find in the outdoors. This guide is designed to show you how to start a fire without a lighter or matches.

If you've found yourself in a situation where you need to build a fire, but are without a standard source of flame, such as a lighter or matches, don't despair—you may still be able to build a fire with the materials you have on hand or find in the outdoors. This guide is designed to show you how to start a fire without a lighter or matches.

• On most outdoor excursions, such as camping or hunting trips, having a fire to keep warm is often a necessity. To prepare for the possible situation where you need to build a fire, but are without a source of flame, familiarize yourself with standard fire-building processes and try out some of the methods listed below.

Tinder (Creative Commons photo by Fred)

• In choosing where to build your fire, you'll want to look for a location that is:

1. Close to your shelter, but not so close that sparks from the fire can reach and ignite it
2. Sheltered from wind and, if applicable, rain

• Once you have selected your location, build a fire pit if you have time. To build a fire pit:

1. Clear the area of brush and debris
2. Dig a pit four to six inches deep and two to three feet in diameter
3. If there are any available, place rocks around the perimeter of your pit to help contain embers and create a wind barrier

• In order to create fire, you'll need to have something to burn. Search around and collect as many dry branches and logs as you can find. Avoid branches that are more than two feet long, wet, covered with pine needles or leaves, or have large knots in them.

• To establish a fire, you'll also need:

1. Tinder: Very dry material such as paper, dead leaves or pine needles, or dry moss that will ignite quickly
2. Kindling: Small, thin twigs or branches in two to eight inch lengths

• To start any fire, you'll want to first light your tinder with some sort of spark and then use your lit tinder to transfer the flame first to the kindling and then to your larger fuel logs. In preparation for starting your fire:

1. Roll your tinder into a loose ball and place this tinder ball in your fire pit
2. Arrange your kindling into pyramid or tepee shape around the tinder ball
3. Have your fuel logs close at hand so you can add them to the fire once the tinder and kindling have ignited

• If you have a magnifying glass or other magnifying lens such as those found in binoculars or eyeglasses, refer to the instructions on Mahalo's guide on How to Start a Fire with a Magnifying Glass.

• If you have a flint and steel, refer to Mahalo's guide on How to Start a Fire with Flint and Steel.

• If, by any chance, you have a 9-volt battery and some steel wool on hand, you can create a fire by:

1. Rubbing the steel wool on the battery terminals until the steel wool begins glowing
2. Placing the glowing steel wool next to your tinder and blowing on it gently to transfer the spark

• If you are not lucky enough to have a flint and steel or a magnifying lens, you may still be able to create fire with materials commonly found in the outdoors. However, this method takes some effort and practice, so be patient.

• To start a fire using the plow method, you will need:
  • A plow board: A piece of soft, dry wood one to two feet long and at least two inches wide
  • A plow: A pointed hardwood stick to use as a plow

1. Create a groove six to eight inches long in the center of your plow board
2. Place the plow board on a flat surface
3. Place the plow into the groove and move it back and forth until you have collected a pile of wood shavings and dust
4. Kneel on the ground
5. Rest one end of the plow board on your knee, so that it sits at an angle
6. Ensure that the wood dust you made is collected in one end of the groove
7. Putting pressure on the plow, rub it quickly back and forth in the groove until the wood dust begins smoldering
8. Blow gently on the smoldering dust to create a flame, and then carefully transfer the flame to your tinder

• Discovering that you've forgotten your lighter and matches can put a heavy damper on your camping or hunting trip. However, you may still be able to start a fire if you have some basic materials, the know-how and some patience.

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• Introduction
• Fire Basics
  • Location
  • Fuel
  • Preparation
• Starting a Fire Using Man-Made Materials
• Starting a Fire Using The Plow Method
• Conclusion