Use Natural Tinder to Start a Campfire
Birch Bark, Cattail Fluff, and Spruce Twigs (Squaw Wood)
May 14, 2009
Making a fire under emergency conditions can be a challenge, even in dry and windless weather. This article discusses the best ways to use some natural tinder materials readily available in western Canada.
Types of Natural Tinder
For purposes of conservation, do not gather tinder from live plants or trees. Tinder works best when it is dry, and living material usually has a higher moisture content.
The following types of natural tinder are available seasonally:
- Dry grasses on the prairie make reasonable tinder, but may only be available in fall and late spring.
- Many people try to use dry leaves, but the forest mat is seldom such that the leaves are dry enough for the job any time except in a dry autumn.
These sources of natural tinder are available year round. Use whatever can be found in the area.
- Birch bark contains a combustible oil and will burn fiercely even when wet. Peel the loose bark - do not cut into the tree.
- Shredded juniper bark can be stripped from dead branches (bark of other shrubs and trees can work too)
- Cattail Fluff - stroke a stick or the back of a knife down the side of a cattail puff to free up the seeds.
- Dry pine needles or spruce needles (though will burn as kindling even if green) still on the branch.
- Spruce Twigs - the dry pencil-thick twigs at the base of a spruce trunk (called "squaw wood" in some areas) makes excellent tinder and dry wood may be found close to the trunk even after days of rain.
- Birds' nests - usually made from twigs and dry grass, these make effective tinder especially if broken up a bit (they tend to be quite compact)
This list is not exhaustive, but these are common natural tinder materials that the author has used with success. They can be gathered easily by hand and do not require tools (as does the creation of fuzz-sticks, for example).
Tinder is seldom nearby when needed, so get in the habit of noting it (or collecting a pocketful) during a trek.
Parts of a Campfire
There are four essential parts involved in making a long-lasting fire capable of providing warmth or cooking.
- Flame - a source of ignition is required to raise the temperature of the kindling over the combustion point. This will usually be a match or a lighter. (In primitive circumstances flint-and-steel or a fire bow may be used but these are beyond the scope of this article)
- Tinder - any material with a low combustion point that will ignite readily when exposed to a spark or flame; usually burns away very quickly.
- Kindling - small sticks up to finger-thick that cannot readily be ignited by a spark or match but which can be ignited by the tinder. Also called regionally fat pine, fatwood, lightwood. Some resinous woods such as conifers can serve as both tinder and kindling. Kindling also burns away quickly.
- Fuel - wood finger-thick or greater that burns for a longer time.
Before starting the fire, it is advisable to have sufficient quantities of tinder, kindling, and and fuel. "Sufficient" means at least a double handful of tinder, a double handful of kindling, and an armful of fuel. Have this on hand before striking a match or spark.
Lighting the Tinder
There are numerous approaches to this, but all follow a similar basic method. What is described here does not apply to 'primitive' fire-starters such as flint-and-steel but only to the use of match or lighter. These steps have been successfully taught to Boy Scouts over a period of 25 years.
- Ensure that the fire is built in a safe area, cleared of combustibles.
- Prepare a "birds nest" of tinder. This is a loose bundle of tinder the size of doubled fists placed on the ground. It is possible to use less, but a double fistful gives greater chance of success. (The author prefers to have this resting between two wrist-sized rocks or sticks placed with an open side upwind.)
- On top of the tinder, stack a handful of the thinnest kindling. Take care not to compact the tinder.
- If there is a wind, leave the upwind side open. This is where the ignition flame will be applied.
- Have the thicker kindling nearby.
- Light the match or lighter and apply it to the base of the tinder (the flame will burn upwards and downwind).
- Once the kindling "takes", begin adding the thicker kindling. Place it onto the fire, don't drop it.
- Add fuel gently.
Knowing what materials make effective natural tinder, as well as how to collect them and effectively ignite them, can be a life-saver for those times when you do have a Bic but don't have a piece of newspaper or a fire-starter.
Also of interest:
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