How to start a fire with only one hand

Tim Kirkpatrick
Apr 25, 2018 11:08 PM PDT
1 minute read
Survival photo

SUMMARY

Heading out into the wilderness for a camping trip is exhilarating and refreshing. Starting a campfire and roasting some marshmallows under the stars is a great way to get in touch with Mother Nature. Although the idea of spending a night in the gre…

Heading out into the wilderness for a camping trip is exhilarating and refreshing. Starting a campfire and roasting some marshmallows under the stars is a great way to get in touch with Mother Nature. Although the idea of spending a night in the great outdoors sounds incredible, campers should always remember to bring specific tools and learn important survival skills in the event they sustain an injury and help is far, far away.

It gets cold out there at night, so it's important to know the basics of starting a fire to keep warm — even in the dire circumstance that you've been injured. Do you know how to start a fire with just one hand? You never know — this skill might just save your life.


It's difficult to start a fire if your arm is in a splint...

With your arm in a sling, place narrow log on the ground and then angle a knife up against it. Now, under the knife's blade, place some dry kindling. Since you only have one-hand, squarely set your foot on the knife's handle to secure it in place.

Just like this.
(Black Scout Survival)

Once the knife is nice and snug, take a ferrocerium rod and strike it up against the knife's blade. This will create a spark and, as long as your dry kindling is close enough, it will catch the spark and ignite.

Like always, provide oxygen and add kindling to feed the fire.

Note: Please remember to always create fires in a safe area regardless of your physical injuries. You don't want to become a burn victim as well.

Check out Black Scout Survival's video below to get a complete breakdown on this single-handed fire starting technique.

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