It was fire, rather than weapons, that placed humans at the top of the food chain. Fire itself can be friend and foe at the same time. Mastering how to start and extinguish a fire are equally important skills to anyone spending time outdoors.
Over time humans’ fire sources have changed, but the reasons we use fire are much the same, though.
Back in the day, ignition sources were limited and there was little more than good old wood to be used as a fuel source. Fire was used for heat, light, and cooking. Most everything revolved around fire. In modern times, we have found ourselves less dependent on wood fire than our ancestors. This can all change very quickly if stranded in cold weather. You will have to depend on your fire-making skills to survive. Lucky for us, we have many new devices in which to create a fire. What would you do if you were stranded and had no modern fire-making tools? Would you make fire and survive? Are you prepared and up for the challenge?
Outdoors types like myself can find themselves trapped in a life-threatening fight with the cold. Any time you step foot in the winter woods, or off the beaten path, you can find yourself in need of such skills. There are things you can do to prepare for such an experience. The amount of knowledge you have in the world of fire making can mean the difference between life and death. I'm going to run through some fire-starting tools, and a scenario as to what would be the best action taken for the situation and how they are best used.
There are many fire-making tools on the market, but not all are what they seem. Be sure to test them and master their use before placing your life on your effectiveness at using them. Lighters and matches are the most common ignition source, but they can be problematic. Most will not work when wet, and they don't work well in the wind. A magnifying glass is a great way to start a fire, but will only work under nearly cloudless days, and are obviously useless after sunset. I'm going to skip to less common fire starting tools, because of nearly everyone's understanding of lighters, matches and their use. Because of their effectiveness and complication level. I will explain the use of magnesium fire starters, blast matches, and primitive fire-making skills.
Not all products on the market are made the same. They may look alike, but work quite differently. Make sure to test all tools for quality and effectiveness before heading afield. The magnesium starters are the most likely culprits of inconsistency. While some work great, others are nearly useless. I can't give advice as to what brand is best, so I recommend fully testing them.
