If you find yourself in need a fire, but you don’t have a lighter or matches there are a number of options you can turn to in order to get a fire started. The most common match-free method used involves magnesium, flint and steel. Lens-based options are common, too. Fires can also be started using friction, steel wool and certain batteries, or even by using a soda can and a chocolate bar. In any of these methods it’s best to have dried tinder in order to build the fire and keep it going. Tinder is any dry substance that readily takes fire from a spark, such as dried leaves, plants, or pieces of wood.
Flint, Magnesium, and Steel
![]()
This is a more familiar backup for most campers, and a Magnesium Fire Starter is ideal for any 72-hr kit as well. In this method you shave off a little pile of magnesium from your block and then strike your bit of steel against the flint which creates sparks. The sparks should be directed toward your pile of tinder, which will catch fire from the flames. You can get the fire going a little stronger by lightly blowing on the small flames, and then adding larger pieces of wood.
Lens based Methods
For this method all you need is some sort of lens in order to focus sunlight on a specific spot. Using lenses only works when the sun is out; it cannot be used at night or anytime when the sun can’t directly reach you.
A magnifying glass, eyeglasses, or binocular lenses will each work the same. Adding water to the lens can intensify the beam. Angle the lens towards the sun in order to focus the beam into as small an area as possible. Position the tinder under the beam and it will start a fire. One can also start a fire using this type of method with a variety of different objects.
• A water balloon full of water, (however, a balloon has a shorter focal length than one of the lenses previously listed. You should hold these 1-2 inches from your tinder pile.)
• Using ice. The ice must be clear, shaped into a lens (by chipping at it), and polished.
• A Coke can and a chocolate bar.
Cell Phone/9 Volt Battery and Steel Wool
The first step for this method is stretching out the steel wool to about 6 inches long and about 1/2 an inch wide. Rub the battery on the steel wool while holding the steel wool in one hand and the battery in the other. For this method you could use a cell phone, cordless phone, 6 volt, or 9 volt battery. (I’ve read that any battery would work, but these are the only ones I’ve seen used.)
Rub the side of the battery with “contacts” on the wool. When the wool begins to burn, gently blow on it and place it under your tinder.
Friction
Last, but not least, this method requires a bit of strength and a lot of patience in order to start a fire. Place the point of a straight stick into a groove in a piece of bark or flat wood. Make sure neither of these pieces of wood contains sap or moisture.
Rub the stick firmly between your hands, while the point creates friction against the other piece of wood. Eventually the wood will heat until it creates a small ember which you can drop in your pile of tinder.
Your ideas
What ideas do you have? Comment below to help others.