We all know how comforting a campfire can be. But in the wilderness, a campfire isn’t just about comfort, it’s about survival. Getting a fire started means you can boil water, warm yourself, cook food, and even signal for rescue. And if you’re in a true survival situation, you may need to start a fire without matches, lighters, or any other modern conveniences. 

That may not be easy. There’s a reason we don’t usually start fires by rubbing two sticks together anymore. Quite frankly, it’s not a lot of fun. But if you plan ahead and practice your skills, you can make starting a fire much easier and (relatively) painless. Here are 10 ways you can do that.

First Things First: Gathering Your Materials

It’s absolutely essential that you gather all the materials you need to start a fire before you start trying to get a fire going. There’s nothing worse than finally getting a spark or ember, and then realizing you have no place to put it because you’ve failed to gather your materials. 

Start by gathering your combustibles – tinder, kindling, and firewood – and arranging them neatly in your fire-starting area so that you can quickly and easily reach them. 

Tinder

Gathering tinder is perhaps the most important step in fire preparation. Tinder consists of small, fine, easily ignitable materials that will be the first to catch fire. Most importantly, your tinder needs to be very, very dry. 

Some of the best tinder materials in nature include dry grasses, bits of fibrous or resinous bark (birch bark is excellent), milkweed or cattail fluff, and tiny needle-sized sticks. If you have a knife, you can use it to create dry shavings from a larger piece of wood. Contrary to popular belief, pine needles do not make very good tinder. 

Some man-made fibers can also be used as tinder. Check your backpack and pockets for lint, which makes great tinder. Fibrous rope and paracord can be unraveled for tinder, and you can even use a tampon or cotton balls.