What are some outdoor fire-starting methods?
Matches: Matches are the most convenient tool for starting a fire. Carry more matches labeled as "strike anywhere" or "non-safety," bundle them together, and store them in a waterproof container to prevent them from rubbing against each other and accidentally igniting, as well as to protect them from getting damp. Note: There is a way to revive damp matches—if you have dry and non-greasy hair, rub the damp matches in your hair. The static electricity generated by the hair can help dry them out. Also, dripping wax on the matches can prevent them from getting damp. To light them, simply scrape off the wax layer with your fingernail. Using a convex lens: Strong sunlight focused through a convex lens can generate enough heat to ignite tinder. The fastest way to start a fire is by focusing sunlight on gasoline or alcohol, which can catch fire within 1–2 seconds.
Magnifying glasses, telescopes, or the convex lenses found in cameras can all serve as substitutes for a convex lens. Additionally, placing tinder at the focal point of a flashlight’s reflector and aiming it at the sun can also generate a flame. In snowy or icy conditions, shaping an ice block into a thick middle and thin-edged form to act as a convex lens is also a viable option. Flint striking: Find a hard stone to use as a "flint," and strike it with the back of a knife or a small piece of steel to create sparks that land on your tinder. A steel saw with serrated edges can produce more sparks than a regular knife. Once the tinder begins to smoke, gently blow or fan it to ignite a flame.
If you’re traveling by car, you can take two long wires and connect them to the positive and negative terminals of the car battery. If no wires are available, two wrenches or other metal tools can be used instead. If the wires are not long enough, you can remove the battery from the vehicle. Slowly touch the ends of the two wires together to create a short circuit, which will produce sparks. Other methods: Rubbing a glass shard on a flat wooden board can also generate heat and eventually a spark. When it becomes very hot from friction, blow on the tinder to ignite it. You can also rub two pieces of soft wood or bamboo vigorously against each other to start a fire, using dried palm bark or the underside of a coconut leaf as tinder. Alternatively, carve a straight groove in the bottom of a softwood block, then use the tip of a pointed, spear-like hardwood to "plow" back and forth—this first creates tinder, which can then be ignited.

For more comprehensive travel information, outdoor knowledge, experience, guides, and driving tips, visit HowToTrip’s sections on:Travel Routes & Guides,Road TripsandOutdoor Adventuresnow!