When we think of urban survival, we mostly just think about blending in, personal safety, transportation, or places to sleep. Popular survival YouTuber Survival Russia shares a very valuable urban survival hack: how to start a fire. I think urban-dwellers are so used to living inside that we forget when you’re out in the streets … Read more
Last month, 77-year-old Paul Meiling from Utah was driving on a snowy side road in an isolated area of Idaho when his truck became stuck. Temperatures were well below freezing while he was stranded for days, but Meiling was able to survive by taking shelter in an abandoned farmhouse nearby and starting a fire. … Read more
Modern fire starting devices utilize chemical accelerants, while primitive fire starting methods tend to rely mainly on friction. But there is a method that bridges the gap, used by people with no modern technology, and yet also incorporated into modern fire-starting methods, such as the butane lighter. This method is that of using the impact from … Read more
Given that these days you can get a paracord bracelet that has a fire rod incorporated into the design for less than $10, I don’t usually write much about primitive friction fire techniques. However, knowing how to start a fire from only the material in the wilderness is a valuable knowledge and a skill that … Read more
Tips for Making Feather Sticks Feather sticks are bush craft fire starters that can be quickly manufactured on the spot using only a knife. They are most useful in damp conditions when dry tinder is not available. The basic premise is to use a knife to carefully create wood shavings that remain attached to … Read more
If things always went your way you would never need to worry about how to survive in the wilderness. But since things don’t always go your way, you need to have a plan, and a backup plan when that doesn’t work. It’s not enough to know how to start a fire in ideal conditions, if … Read more
Knowing how to start a fire and having the tools to get it going are not always going to be enough. You might find that you don’t have very much wood available, or that the wood you do have for fuel is too wet. Here are some tips on how to make the most out … Read more
If you don’t have a lighter in your pocket when you realize that you need a fire, then it’s even less likely that you remembered to bring your bow drill with you. So what else is there that you can use as a fire starter? Steel wool and battery While this alternative might not always … Read more
It’s getting colder this time of year, and if you find yourself stuck outside with temperatures dropping, fire could be the difference between life and death. But starting that fire is only the beginning. Unless you are in a situation where staying in one place is favorable, you are going to have to start a … Read more