1. FIRE STARTERS

MATCHES

Kitchen‑size are best. Waterproof with paraffin, nail polish, or shellac cut 50‑50 with alcohol.

FLINT AND STEEL

Any stone containing quartz is good. For steel, use back of knife blade or file with burr ground off.

FIRE BY FRICTION

Cottonwood, cedar, elm, or basswood for board and spindle.

BURNING GLASS

Magnifying glass or lens of binoculars or camera.

GRASS

Fine, dry‑up off the ground.

WEED TOPS

Goldenrod, aster, etc.

DRY LEAVES

Still on the tree.

FINE TWIGS

Small dead branches from standing trees.

BARK

Cedar or birch or pal‑ from dead standing trees with your fingernails.

BIRD NESTS

From last season.

MOUSE NESTS

Any season.

"FAT" PINE

Full of pitch.

FINE SHAVINGS

of dry wood

PAPER

CANDLE

PARAFFIN AND PAPER OR STRING

COMMERCIAL STARTERS

Sterno
Meta tablets
Firelares

TWIGS

Small, dead, dry twigs from standing trees.

WEED STEMS

Medium and heavy stems.

SPLIT WOOD

Always good as long as it is:
a. Dry
b. Split finely enough
c. More than you think you need

WOOD

Any size. Better split it if your log is more than 3 inches in diameter.

CHARCOAL

In "natural" sticks or pressed briquettes.

COAL

Soft or hard

PETROLEUM
PRODUCTS/
GASOLINE­

NEVER!