Every time I watch one of those “survivor” TV shows, like Survivorman, or Man vs Wild, I see these people starting fires with nothing but sticks. I’ve been neglectful of developing my Backyard Primitive Fire starting skills , just like many of you.

Starting fires is an important preparedness skill, but there is no way that everyone can get a fire going by rubbing sticks together. It might be simpler to use magnifying glass or a Fresnel Lens and get that fire going in no time.

A fire is one of the best tools you can have in a survival situation. Because fire is so important we are going to discuss fire sticks.

Fire starting isn’t easy, even when it’s not an emergency. Imagine how hard it’s going to be, when you have to do it for real. The key to a starting a fire is good tinder and small pieces of wood, but if you’re on the move you may not think to pick up the right materials as you pass them.

You probably have all the ingredients to make homemade fire starters: egg cartons, dryer lint, and wax. Let’s do this!