What Are Six Ways to Start a Campfire?

Matches

• Matches are one of the easiest ways to start up your campfire if you have access to them. Create a pyramid with thinner pieces of wood near the bottom and thicker pieces near the top. Stuff pieces of newspaper or other paper into the cracks between the pieces of wood, poking the paper underneath the wood. Light a match and use it to ignite the paper underneath the wood. The paper should heat up the thinner boards and light them on fire. The fire will eventually spread into the thicker logs and become a more established campfire.

Friction

• Friction between two objects causes heat. You can test this by vigorously rubbing your hands together and noting how your hands become warm. This concept can help you to start a campfire if you have nothing more than some wood. A small, dry leaf, piece of paper or piece of bark is also needed. Place your kindling into a natural slot or knot hole in a piece of wood. Put the end of a stick on top of the kindling. Rotate the stick back and forth over the kindling by placing the stick between your hands and rubbing them back and forth. Eventually the stick will make the kindling hot enough to ignite. Blow on the small fire to help encourage it to grow.

Flint Rocks

• Certain rocks may produce a spark when they are tapped together. If you can find some of these rocks, you can use them to start your campfire. A flint rock and piece of metal also work to create a spark. Because these sparks are not strong enough to ignite a larger piece of wood, you must first collect some dry tinder to start the fire. Tinder can be anything from a dry leaf to a small piece of bark from a tree to dry grass. Scrunch these items into a small ball and tap the rocks together quickly and repeatedly over the tinder ball until it starts on fire. Blow on it to enhance the fire and once it is large enough, add pieces of wood slowly.

Lens

• On a sunny day, you can use the power of the sun to help start your campfire. Arrange your dry tinder in the location for your fire. Use a lens, such as a magnifying glass, to turn the sun into a laser-like beam that can start your tinder on fire. Position the lens between the sun and the tinder pile. Move it around slowly until you pinpoint the location where the magnifying glass creates a spot of light near the center of your tinder pile. Hold the magnifying glass there until the tinder begins to smolder. Blow on it and add your firewood once the tinder begins to burn well.

Mirror

• Similar to the lens method, a mirror can focus the energy of the sun into one centralized beam that can provide the heat necessary to start your kindling on fire. If you do not have a mirror, you can also scrub the bottom of a soda can with a piece of chocolate or toothpaste until it shines like a mirror. Angle the mirror or soda can so the sunlight hits it and bounces off in the direction of your kindling. Once you have found the proper angle, hold it until the kindling begins to smolder. Blow on it to create flames from the smoldering pile and add your firewood.

Batteries and Steel Wool

• Transferring the energy of batteries into a piece of steel wool works to create a fire, but you must be careful not to allow the battery to catch fire and explode. Because of the risk involved, this method should only be used when absolutely necessary for survival. To create a fire, stretch out the steel wool to about 6 inches long and a half inch wide. Rub the battery contacts on the steel wool until it glows with heat. Blow on it to increase the heat and transfer it to your tinder to start your campfire.