🔥 How to Start a Fire in the Wild (Without a Lighter)

There’s nothing like a real campfire — warmth, light, and the smell of the wild. Here’s how to start one, even without a lighter:

🪵 What You’ll Need:

  • Tinder – dry grass, wood shavings, cotton balls, or birch bark
  • Kindling – small sticks, twigs
  • Fuel wood – dry logs or branches
  • Firestarter – ferro rod, matches, or waterproof lighter
  • Optional: firestarter cubes or vaseline-soaked cotton

🔥 Step-by-Step:

  1. Clear a safe spot
    Find a flat area, away from brush. Clear rocks and leaves.
  2. Build your base
    Lay down some tinder in the center.
  3. Arrange kindling
    Use the teepee or log cabin method to stack twigs over the tinder, leaving airflow.
  4. Ignite
    Use your ferro rod or match to spark the tinder.
    Blow gently until the kindling catches.
  5. Add fuel
    Once the fire grows, slowly add thicker branches. Keep airflow open.

⚠️ Safety First:

  • Never leave a fire unattended
  • Keep water/sand nearby
  • Fully extinguish before sleeping or leaving

WILD TIP: Keep a waterproof firestarter kit in your pack — it weighs nothing and could save your night.

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