Scotland's Source - How to...Start a Fire

How to...

Start a Fire

You'll need to gather some dried grass and leaves, placed around a small hollow in a log or the ground.
If it has been raining, forget it. You won't have a chance.

You then need a fire stick - any straight stick around two feet, half a metre, long will do.

This rests on another piece of wood in the assembly of leaves and twigs; the other end is held in place with a stone that also has a slight hollow in it, deep enough to allow the stick to rotate freely.You'll also need a makeshift bow, made by tying a piece of string between two ends of a bendy stick.
With one hand, hold the stick in place by pressing lightly with the stone on the top end. With the other hand, wrap the bow string around the stick once, and then saw back and forth, spinning the stick in the leaves. This method is far more effective - and easier - than trying to spin the stick between your hands.

With any luck (and you'll certainly need some), after a couple of minutes the friction caused will start a small fire in the dried grass

Don't forget to take a box of matches with you though, so you can whip it out when no one's looking
and start a real fire!