How To Use A Fire Starter: 8 Steps (with Pictures) - WikiHow

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Terms of Use wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. Learn why people trust wikiHow How to Use a Fire Starter PDF download Download Article Explore this Article parts 1 Using a Magnesium Fire Starter to Make a Fire 2 Preparing for a Fire Other Sections Questions & Answers Video Tips and Warnings Related Articles Expert Interview References Article Summary Reviewed by Ky Furneaux

Last Updated: October 14, 2025 Approved

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This article was reviewed by Ky Furneaux. Ky Furneaux is a survival expert, outdoor guide, and professional stuntwoman based in Australia. She’s been featured in over 100 films and TV productions, and has hosted, produced, and participated in some of the most extreme TV survival shows including MTV’s Made and Discovery’s Naked and Afraid. She has authored 5 survival books, including "The Superwoman’s Survival Guide" and "Survive: The All-In-One Guide to Staying Alive in Extreme Conditions", with the goal of sharing her knowledge of survival techniques with others. As an accomplished stuntwoman, she won a Taurus Award in 2012 for Best Female Stunt Performer and has doubled stars like Jennifer Garner, Anne Hathaway, Jaime Alexander, and Sharon Stone. wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. In this case, 82% of readers who voted found the article helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. This article has been viewed 164,426 times.

Almost anyone who has tried to start a fire without matches or a lighter has quickly discovered just how hard it can be. You can rub two sticks together for a long time and still end up with nothing. Luckily, small and easily portable magnesium block fire starters have become common enough that they can be found in nearly any sporting goods or outfitter store. While nearly everyone can be successful at starting a fire with such a tool, there are a few things you need to know before you make a fire of your own.

Quick Steps for Using a Fire Starter

  1. Survival and outdoors expert Ky Furneaux says to hold the starter low and directly above the tinder.
  2. Angle the striker 30° to 40° against the starter.
  3. Scape the starter with the striker in an upwards motion to create a spark.
  4. Gently blow on the kindling to get it to ignite and create a fire.

Steps

Part 1 Part 1 of 2:

Using a Magnesium Fire Starter to Make a Fire

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  1. Step 1 Scrape the magnesium bar. 1 Scrape the magnesium bar. The magnesium bar is a really remarkable camping or survival tool. Magnesium is an incredibly flammable material, and in certain circumstances ignited magnesium has known to reach temperatures of over 5,000 °F (2,760 °C). Obviously, something that burns with this intensity can rapidly create a powerful fire.
    • If you are using a knife, try to use the back of the blade if you can; you don't want to damage the knife edge, and you are also not trying to cut slivers out of the bar. You want small flakes that will ignite easily.
    • It can be difficult to determine the quantity of magnesium necessary to start a fire. Too little and you won't succeed in starting a fire; too much and you'll have a 5000 degree fireball in your face. That said, it might be good to start small and then, only if that fails, add more scrapings.
    • You can skip this step if you’re using a ferrocerium rod (often called a “ferro” rod) fire starter.
  2. Step 2 Strike the flint to create spark. 2 Strike the flint to create spark. Usually one side of these magnesium bars contains a flint strip. Scrape that with your knife to create a spark. Maintain the striker at a 45-degree angle facing away from you.
    • The quantity of spark will be determined by the amount of force applied, the speed of the strike, and the angle of attack (degree at which the blade runs along the flint).
    • Do not stab or slash at the flint. Drag the blade across the flint or, if you prefer, drag the flint over the edge of the knife while keeping the blade steady. The latter method may be safer.
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  3. Step 3 Encourage the development of a flame. 3 Encourage the development of a flame. If the kindling immediately ignites and catches fire, congratulations. If it instead smokes and smolders, you may need to gently blow onto the kindling until embers ignite into proper flames.
  4. Step 4 Maintain the fire. 4 Maintain the fire. Use larger branches after the fire has become established. If you add them when the fire is small, they will prevent the oxygen from entering the fire area.[1] .Watch the fire closely to make sure it does not burn out of control or sparks do not spread to nearby fuel sources.
  5. Step 5 Extinguish the fire before you leave. 5 Extinguish the fire before you leave. Make sure you douse the fire in water and stir the ashes until you are sure all embers are put out.[2]
    • Put the fire out in sections. Pour water on a little piece of it at first and then spill it all the way around. Take a little time in between sections, because there's going to be a lot of smoke.[3]
    • If you don't have water, use a lot of dirt or sand to snuff out any oxygen. Once it looks like the fire is out, poke it around a little bit. The ground is going to be hot, but you want to just make sure it is 100% out.[4]
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Part 2 Part 2 of 2:

Preparing for a Fire

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  1. Step 1 Find the right location for a fire. 1 Find the right location for a fire. Not every place is suitable for a fire, either because it can be difficult to start or because of the dangers involved.
    • Try to find a place not in the wind. A breeze can blow out fires that you attempt to start or spread fires out of control. If you can, find a sheltered area where it will not be a factor.
    • Look for a location that is near a supply of fuel (presumably wood). Fires can be surprisingly "hungry," and it is impractical to carry heavy wood great distances. If you need to keep a fire going all night or for 24 hours, you need a pile of kindling that is the size of a Volkswagen Beetle (and double it to be on the safe side)![5]
    • Find an area where this is little chance of fire spreading. Try to find a clearing or area with little grass and some distance (a few yards/meters) from any trees or overhanging branches.
  2. Step 2 Prepare the fire site. 2 Prepare the fire site. In order to discourage the spread of fire, you must clear the area around the intended fire site.
    • Small dug-out fire pits were once a common way of limiting the reach of fire. Make the pit a bit larger than the intended fire in order to maintain distance between the flame and any grass.[6]
    • Alternatively, mound fires are commonly advocated among the Boy Scouts and other outdoor enthusiasts today.[7] As the name suggests, you start by building a mound of sand or dirt (again, larger than the intended fire). This elevates it above the surrounding grass or other materials that cannot always be sufficiently cleared).
    • If you cannot get out of the wind, prepare a windbreak for the fire. Perhaps an old damp log can be used to limit the effect of the wind on your fire site. If you do choose a potentially flammable material for your windbreak, make sure there is sufficient distance to prevent it from catching on fire.
  3. Step 3 Gather the necessary materials and assemble them. 3 Gather the necessary materials and assemble them. You must be able to both start and sustain a fire. If you have chosen your location wisely, there should be plenty of fuel around. That is not all that is needed to start a fire, however.[8]
    • If you are using wood, you will not start by lighting large branches on fire. Instead, you must gather kindling, including such dried materials as leaves, conifer needles, and small twigs.[9]
    • You should also assemble the kindling and some medium-sized branches (roughly the size of an adult finger) in the selected fire site. The kindling will burn quickly, and even if you can add more kindling to the initial fire there must be something in place to sustain the flames. Organize this before you try to start your fire.
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Community Q&A

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  • Question Why do I need leaves in the fire? Community Answer Community Answer Leaves are usually dry, which makes them excellent at burning and helping start your fire. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 27 Helpful 90
  • Question What if I do not have a magnesium bar for the fire starter? PopeyedSpore26 PopeyedSpore26 Community Answer This isn't likely to happen, because most fire starters have a magnesium bar. However, you can also use tinder, wood or any fuel on hand. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 29 Helpful 70
  • Question What if the fire spreads out of where you are holding it? Claire Compton Claire Compton Community Answer Put the fire out immediately (where the excess fire is), and then place moist dirt around the firepit (dirt extinguishes fire). Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 25 Helpful 48
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Video

Tips

  • If you want to go the unconventional way, you can make fire starters with pine cones and wine cork. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

Tips from our Readers

The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.
  • If you can't start the fire right away, don't give up! It might take you a couple of tries to get the fire started.
  • Try to find a location that is out of the wind when starting a fire.
Submit a Tip All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published Name Please provide your name and last initial Submit Thanks for submitting a tip for review! Advertisement

Warnings

  • Fire is dangerous and should not be treated as a plaything. Magnesium bars are obviously fire hazards, and must be treated appropriately. Thanks Helpful 1 Not Helpful 0
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Expert Interview

Thanks for reading our article! If you’d like to learn more about survival techniques, check out our in-depth interview with Britt Edelen.

References

  1. ↑ Britt Edelen. Outdoor Educator. Expert Interview
  2. ↑ https://smokeybear.com/en/prevention-how-tos/campfire-safety/how-to-maintain-and-extinguish-your-campfire
  3. ↑ Britt Edelen. Outdoor Educator. Expert Interview
  4. ↑ Britt Edelen. Outdoor Educator. Expert Interview
  5. ↑ Britt Edelen. Outdoor Educator. Expert Interview
  6. ↑ https://smokeybear.com/en/prevention-how-tos/campfire-safety/how-to-prepare-your-campfire-pit
  7. ↑ http://www.scouting.org/scoutsource/BoyScouts/TeachingLeaveNoTrace/035_minimize.aspx
  8. ↑ https://smokeybear.com/en/prevention-how-tos/campfire-safety/how-to-build-your-campfire
  9. ↑ Britt Edelen. Outdoor Educator. Expert Interview

About This Article

Ky Furneaux Reviewed by: Ky Furneaux Survival and Outdoors Expert This article was reviewed by Ky Furneaux. Ky Furneaux is a survival expert, outdoor guide, and professional stuntwoman based in Australia. She’s been featured in over 100 films and TV productions, and has hosted, produced, and participated in some of the most extreme TV survival shows including MTV’s Made and Discovery’s Naked and Afraid. She has authored 5 survival books, including "The Superwoman’s Survival Guide" and "Survive: The All-In-One Guide to Staying Alive in Extreme Conditions", with the goal of sharing her knowledge of survival techniques with others. As an accomplished stuntwoman, she won a Taurus Award in 2012 for Best Female Stunt Performer and has doubled stars like Jennifer Garner, Anne Hathaway, Jaime Alexander, and Sharon Stone. This article has been viewed 164,426 times. 28 votes - 82% Co-authors: 34 Updated: October 14, 2025 Views: 164,426 Categories: Fire Starters Article SummaryX

To use a fire starter, begin by arranging sticks of kindling on top of dried leaves or twigs. Then, hold the magnesium bar over the kindling with the flint strip facing up. Next, drag a knife across the strip to create sparks that will ignite the kindling. Once the kindling is on fire, blow on it gently until the embers turn into flames. Finally, place larger branches on the fire as the flame gets bigger. For tips on how to determine the best place to start a fire, read on! Did this summary help you?YesNo

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Reader Success Stories

  • Sebastien

    Sebastien

    Oct 20, 2021

    "This story actually taught me how to start a fire and be cautious."
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Did this article help you?

Yes No Advertisement Cookies make wikiHow better. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Ky Furneaux Reviewed by: Ky Furneaux Survival and Outdoors Expert Co-authors: 34 Updated: October 14, 2025 Views: 164,426 82% of readers found this article helpful. 28 votes - 82% Click a star to add your vote Sebastien

Sebastien

Oct 20, 2021

"This story actually taught me how to start a fire and be cautious." Xzavier Mitchell

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Jan 24, 2022

"The article can help me when I'm cold and need help. " Larissa Mandel

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"It showed me to be safe and how to start a fire." Sasha Smith

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Aug 26, 2016

"Great information for beginners!" Share yours! More success stories Hide success stories

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