Starting a fire in the great outdoors is a tradition as old as humankind. In fact, many scientists believe that the moment man first conquered fire is the moment the species set itself apart from any other. While other species of apes use tools, none apart from humans is able to make or control a fire, providing the prehistoric humans with an almost insurmountable advantage when it comes to surviving in the wilderness. Today, a fire is as useful as it ever was. This comes from its three main and practical advantages – it provides the warmth that can save lives in a cold environment, it allows food and liquids to be cooked and made right for human consumption and finally, it offers protection from wild animals and other dangers.
Fire has an additional benefit that is purely psychological – research and experience show that those people who are stranded or in some other survival situation have a lot better chances of making it out with a fire, even if they practically do not need it. The simple act of making a stable fire is a big motivational boost and allows the people to believe that they will be eventually saved from their predicament. In some way, fire comforts people of any culture, age, or walk of life. Because of this, getting a fire is exceedingly important, but often, especially in a survival setting, this is easier said than done.
Even with a ready source of flames like a lighter or matches, getting things to burn steadily and constantly in the wilderness can sometime be a daunting task. Yet, there are almost always sure ways to achieve exactly this, especially when it comes to starting the fire itself. To help with making a fire in the wilderness, here is the ultimate guide of the best natural tinder materials and how to approach making a fire in the great natural outdoors.
Fire Starting Essentials
For anything to burn, three ingredients are needed – a source of heat, a flammable material, and oxygen. In a survival setting, oxygen is always present in the air and in general, people have access to making a small flame, either with devices like lighters or other similar items or through some improvised methods like friction. So, the last problem element is a flammable material. Unfortunately, wood and other regular flammable materials are often damp or wet, making it hard for them to easily catch flame.
They do eventually burn when they are dried either in the sun or inside an already burning fire, but they tend to be useless when it comes to starting the same fire. This is why anyone who wants to be prepared for a situation like this needs to be aware of natural materials that can fulfill this role perfectly. They are called natural tinder and with them, a survival scenario can quickly be improved with a burning fire. Here are the best source materials that makes excellent kindling and some of the best natural tinder around.
1. Tree Sap
Tree sap is the sticky resin that often appears on the parts of a particular species that have been damaged. When it dries up, it ends up looking like an ember substance, hard and translucent. The sap burns great when it comes into contact with flames and it is a good option for a kindling.
2. Coal Fungus
This fungus resembles coal not only in name but in appearance. It can be found in branches or trunks of trees, where it usually grows in clusters. They can be picked and if they are dried, they will easily take on a spark or small flame and get set alight entirely.
3. Tinder Fungus
Tinder fungus is another types of plant life that is able to keep a smoldering ember inside of it. It was used by ancient people as a means of transporting an ember for a new fire and today, it can serve the same purpose for anyone who finds it.
4. Bird Nest
The structure of a bird’s nest is ideal for starting a fire. It is constructed of small twigs, pieces of grass and other flammable materials, while it is located in high branches. There, it is constantly in the sun, where it stays dry and thus a great kindling.
5. Dead Grass
Dried grass is a great fire started if it is used in abundance. While it can easily catch fire, it is quick to burn, so a lot of it is needed and it should always be accompanied by small twigs. Even if these are not completely dry, the quick flames of the dried grass will dry it enough to take on the fire.
6. Pine Cones
Many native tribes in the USA used to utilize pine cones as an improvised candle. They burn long and hot thanks to the resin and oils in it, so using one to light a fire is a great option, especially because it is not time constrained. An average-sized pine cone will burn for several minutes.
7. Pine Needles
A lot of ground floor of forests is covered with pine needles. Collecting them by hand is possibly a bit tricky and painful, but they end up burning fast and strong.
8. Dried Leaves
One of the most widespread means of getting natural kindling, dried leaves will start a fire without any doubt. Often, in moist environments, it is not easy to find a lot of dried leaves on the ground, but there are plenty of those on the branches.
9. Thistle Seeds
These seeds posses both the dryness and the calorie content that allows them to burn and also to be used to make a fire.
10. Cattails
Cattails can be found around ponds and other bodies of water. They are light and feel like styrofoam to the touch, which is always a good sign for kindling. Two or three of these will easily start a fire after taking on the flame.
11. Flower Head Pods
Pods of flower heads are shells of very flammable material. To use them as kindling, a person simply needs to collect enough of them because they burn up quickly.
12. Dandelion Head
Also known as dandelion fluff, these carry of seeds and are light and extremely flammable. A bundle of these should be picked with as little of the fresh dandelion among them and then set alight.
13. Punkwood
Often called plunky wood or punkwood, this material is the rotted and soft area of a log or a tree. It is usually found at its center and if dry, as it mostly is, it will burn easily.
14. Fatwood
Fatwood is a type of resin-infused pine wood that was regularly used for carvings, but it can also produce plenty of fast and persistent flames if set alight.
15. Wood Shavings
Wood shavings work by presenting a dispersed and easily flammable target to any open flames. They quickly catch fire and transport it among each other.
16. Natural Kapok
Kapok is a tropical forest tree and its seeds come surrounded by a spider net-like matter. This can burn fast and strong with any flame.
17. Dead Spanish Moss
Spanish moss is a plant that lives on trees and falls down from them, creating long curtain-like strands. When the plant dies, these dry up and burn intensely from even the smallest of flames.
18. Coconut Husks
These husks are very useful because they can both easily catch flame on its surface strand and keep it on it thanks to the harder interior.
19. Cedar Bark
Cedar bark can be peeled off in long strips, which easily burn and are mostly dry, even if the tree is healthy and regularly subjected to rainfall. This makes them a great choice as one of the best natural tinder for starting a fire.
20. Birch Bark
Birch can be quickly recognized because of its white bark. The same bark usually peels parts of its outer layers, which burn fast once they are introduced to flames.
21. Sagebrush Bark
This dry shrub-like plant has an excellent bark with the ideal content and is among the best natural tinder options.
22. Palm Bark
Palm trunks are very dry even if they are located close to sources of water. Their bark can be taken down in a similar manner to harvesting small kindling pieces, all of which individually come off from the plant.
23. Dried Animal Dung
This might not sound very appealing, but the truth is that animal dung comes with several important benefits. Naturally, it can be used as fertilizer, but more importantly, for a survival situation, it does burn when put in contact with flames. Many cultures around the world still employ dung for cooking and heating fires. In the wilderness, this material can make a difference when starting a fire.
24. Old Man’s Beard
Hanging lichen is known to adhere to trunks and branches of trees in shaded locations. It can light up quickly as long as the day is not damp – it tends to take on the moisture from the air.
With these natural tinder ideas, anyone can be positive that they will be able to start a fire using the materials the wilderness supplies them with.
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