How to Start a Campfire When You Don’t Have Matches
Whenever I camp or hike, I make sure I’m prepared with the appropriate gear. And this includes the most elemental gear of all –
waterproof matches
! I’m sure you’re the same way.
However, what happens if you are caught without matches and you need a campfire for warmth or to cook? Would you know what to do? Well that’s what this post is about – how to start a campfire when your last match flames out before it has done its job.
The Hand Drill Method
There are several ways to accomplish fire without matches, but perhaps the most basic way is through a “hand drill”, which, essentially, allows for friction that generates heat. That heat, ideally, turns into an ember, which breeds fire.
Materials
To begin with, make sure you have the appropriate “equipment” – a spindle, a fireboard, a rock, a piece of bark and tinder. The spindle, or spin stick, is essentially a 2 foot stick will all protruding branches removed; the fireboard is simply a flat piece of wood. Try to use dried out, soft wood such as juniper, aspen, or willow as these will produce the best results. Finally, for tinder, look for dry leaves or grass. Basically, you want something that can catch fire quickly. So the drier, the better!
Preparation
Proper preparation of your “fire materials” is simple, yet critical. Begin with your fireboard. Create a “v-shaped” opening on the board’s edge. Right next to it, away from the edge, bore a small depression. You can either use your fingernails to accomplish these tasks or the rock as cutting, grinding instrument. (Ideally, you’ll have a knife with you, but we are assuming the most primitive of conditions).
Finally, place the bark below the v-shaped opening.
Create Fire!
Now for the hard part – the creation of fire!
Place your spindle in the depression you carved into your fireboard. And put the bark below the v-shaped opening. The bark will catch the ember(s) you produce.
Now start rolling the spindle between your palms. This will produce heat, which, after a while, should create an ember, which will fall into the bark. You’ll then lift the bark and use it to gingerly place the ember on your tinder, which, with a little blowing and coaxing from you, will turn into fire.
Conclusion
This method of fire production is NOT for the faint of heart. The best way to start a campfire is remember to bring your matches or a lighter. However, I think it’s a good idea to know how to start fire should you catch yourself in a desperate situation…without your handy Bic.
In future posts, I’ll continue this serious on wilderness survival as one can never be too careful – or too knowledgeable – when it comes to Mother Nature.
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