Matches are
for sissies Four unconventional ways to light a fire
BY CRAIG MACARTNEY
Matches aren’t the only way to light a fire, and for tricky (read, wet, windy, soggy fuel) situations, knowing backup methods inspires outdoor confidence. We’ve got four fire-lighting methods to inspire your fellow campers and keep you warm and dry. Everyone knows fires can be dangerous, so think safety and practise these methods before hitting the woods. Build the fire to be. After you’ve
gathered tinder and wood, form a nest with the most flammable tinder in the centre.
FLINT AND STEEL The idea of flint and steel has a
historical ring to it, but it remains one of the most reliable fire-lighting methods. Flint, or fire-steel, is sold at most outdoors stores and resembles a short black spike with a thumb hold. Hold your fire-steel angled down
slightly, with the end just above the your tinder nest. Press firmly down with a knife and quickly pull away the fire-steel, sending sparks showering into the tinder. Repeat until an ember glows. Gently blow the ember into a flame, add kindling when the flame appears and gradually build up into a full fire. New fire-steel is often covered
with a finish that will not produce sparks, so it may take a few strikes before sparks appear. Use the back edge of the knife to avoid dulling the cutting edge.
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MAGNIFYING GLASS Every kid has
tried this. Some binoculars have removable lenses that will do the trick, as will a standard magni- fying glass, but bright sunlight is required for any lens to work. Place the tinder in direct sunlight and hold the lens slightly above. Gradually raise the lens until the sunlight is a focused point on the tinder. As smoke rises, gently blow on the tinder until it ignites.
FLASHLIGHT Requires a large flashlight and bright sunlight. Remove the para- bolic mirror from your flashlight. Hold some tinder through the hole left by the bulb and point the mir- ror directly at the sun. Hold it still. Adjust the tinder to the focal point of the mirror, the point where the light from the sun converges. As smoke rises, blow gently to generate a flame. This method takes patience and precision.
FIRE BOW One of the oldest methods, likely used soon after early humans first tamed fire. This one’s for hard-core survival freaks, but it’s cool. A fire-bow has a fire-board (a flat piece of wood about 30 centimetres long), a spindle (a smooth straight stick, 20 centimetres long, sharpened to a shallow point at
both ends), a handle with an indent on one side, and a bow (a stick at half a metre long, tied at both ends with a string and bent into a curve). Gouge an indent in the fire-board
to hold the spindle. Loop your spindle into the string and place one point in the indent of the fire-board. Place a green leaf in handle’s indent for lubrication. Hold the top of the spindle with the handle. With one foot holding the fire-board down, press on the handle. “Burn in” your fire-board by drawing the bow back and forth to spin the spindle until smoke rises. Remove the spindle and cut a small notch into the charred part of your fire-board. Place a piece of bark under the notch to catch the ember, put the bow and spindle back in place and spin vigorously until you see lots of smoke. Carefully remove your spindle and using a twig, knock the coal onto your bark. Carefully place the coal in your nest, hold the sides together and blow on the coal. As the sayings go, where there’s
smoke, there’s fire; and if at first you don’t succeed, practise, practise, practise. /OO
ottawaoutdoors 23
PHOTO CREDIT: JAMESJOHNSONART
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