Survival Skills: How to Build a Fire Using Wooden Sticks

Creating a fire using wooden sticks in nature can be a crucial survival skill, whether camping or finding yourself in a survival situation. It can provide warmth, light, and a way to cook food.

Here are the steps for creating fire using wooden sticks in nature:

1. Gather materials: The first step in creating a fire is to gather the materials you’ll need. This includes wooden sticks, tinder (small, dry, fibrous material that catches fire easily), kindling (small sticks or twigs), and larger logs. You’ll also need a fire starter, such as matches, a firestarter tool, or a lighter. If you don’t have any, you can make your own fire starter using materials like dry grass, pine needles, or bird feathers.
2. Choose a location: When choosing a location for your fire, look for an open, flat area that’s at least 15 feet away from any flammable materials, such as leaves, branches, or tents. Make sure the ground is clear of debris, and consider the wind direction to ensure the fire doesn’t spread.
3. Create a fire pit: To create a fire pit, clear a circle about 3 feet in diameter, removing any grass, leaves, or other flammable materials. Then, create a ring of larger sticks or rocks around the perimeter to contain the fire.
4. Build a fire structure: You can use several different fire structures, but one of the most effective is the teepee structure. To build a teepee structure, start by placing a handful of tinder in the centre of the fire pit. Then, lean several small sticks against the tinder in a teepee shape. Finally, add larger sticks on top of the small sticks, continuing to build the teepee shape until you have a good base for your fire.
5. Ignite the fire: Once you have your fire structure in place, it’s time to ignite it. If you have a fire starter, such as matches or a lighter, use it to ignite the tinder in the centre of the structure. If you don’t have a fire starter, you can try to create a spark using two sticks. To do this, find a dry, dead branch and a stick with a pointy end. Place the pointy end of the stick against the branch and rapidly rub the stick back and forth to create a spark. If the tinder catches fire, carefully blow on it until it’s fully ablaze.
6. Add more fuel: Once the fire is lit, continue to add more fuel in the form of small sticks and kindling. As the fire grows, add larger logs to keep it going. Make sure to leave enough space between the logs to allow oxygen to circulate and keep the fire burning.
7. Extinguish the fire: When you’re ready to put out the fire, make sure it’s completely extinguished. Pour water over the fire, stirring the ashes and embers with a stick to ensure that everything is wet. Then, pour more water over the area to ensure the fire is completely out.

How Long Does It Take To Start a Fire With Sticks?

Creating a fire using natural wooden sticks can be challenging but rewarding. It requires patience, persistence, and attention to safety. However, with practice and the right materials, you can learn to create a fire in any situation, providing warmth, light, and a way to cook food.

It can take a few minutes to several hours to start a fire using sticks, depending on the materials you have, the weather conditions, and your skill level. You can usually start a fire relatively quickly if you have dry tinder, kindling, and a fire starter, such as matches or a lighter. It may take longer if you don’t have a fire starter and need to create a spark using two sticks. Additionally, wet or damp conditions can make it more challenging to start a fire, as can strong winds or low humidity. With practice, however, you can learn to start a fire with sticks in a relatively short time.