Ways to Start a Fire in an Emergency

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Terri_Paajanen]Terri Paajanen
There are many skills that are helpful in a survival situation, like when you are lost in the woods or your car has gone off the road in a remote area. Being able to create heat and light is one of the first things you are going to want. If you want to be prepared for an emergency, you should have at least one of these with you at all times. Two is even better.
Matches and Lighters
This is the easiest one and the one most people are probably prepared to use. But if you're not a smoker, you might forget to keep matches or a lighter in your pocket. It won't take too much skill to start a fire with either of these as long as the matches are dry and the lighter has fuel.
Flint and Steel
You'll need a little bit of practice to operate a flint and steel with any success but you can light hundreds of fires from one flint so you don't worry about anything running out. The idea with this is that a sharp strike of steel against flint will create a shower of hot sparks. With the right tinder and a few gentle puffs of air, you can get a fire going.
Most fire-starting products that you can buy have the flint and steel parts attached by a short cord or lanyard so they are kept together. Some are a little more complicated and work more by pressing a button or trigger, and the steel strikes against the flint by an internal mechanism. A BlastMatch is one like this, for example.
You can go one step further with a magnesium bar and flint. The silver bar is easily shaved down with a knife blade to make magnesium shavings that light up in flame almost instantly when a spark hits them. These usually don't have their own steel attached so you have to have a knife. It does make it easier to start a fire with the magnesium, rather than just sparks alone.
Magnifying Glass
An old classic but it does genuinely work as long as there is sunshine out. You'll need something else on a cloudy day or when you need a fire at night. Hold the lens so that the light shines through it, and orient it to create the smallest point of light you can. That's how you get the most heat. Focus that spot on a bundle of shredded bark or cattail fluff and it will light up quickly. It's actually a great method except that its limited by the sun.
Battery and Steel Wool
Some folks like this method because it's a bit more flashy and uses non-typical survival items. You just have to touch a piece of steel wool to both poles of a battery (at least a AA in size) and the steel will quickly turn red hot. It can be used to get your tinder started as long as you can do so quickly. The wool will burn through very quickly.
Knowing how to gather dry tinder and kindling is another important skill, but having a fire-starter is the first step.
Terri is an avid outdoors-woman and enjoys getting out of the house to spend time in the wilderness whenever she can. She helps manage a website with her husband on the subject, and you can find lots of great camping, hiking and hunting information at http://www.mikeoutdoors.com
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Ways-to-Start-a-Fire-in-an-Emergency&id=6687327] Ways to Start a Fire in an Emergency