Originally Posted By: bama7x57
How do you start a fire in the rain when everything is wet?


Getting a fire lit is one thing, keeping it going is another. Three parts - tinder, kindling, fuel. Tinder is easy. Lights very fast, immediate flame. But it also goes out just as fast, usually 5-10 seconds. Its purpose is to get the kindling going. If you don't have immediate kindling there then its over. Kindling needs to be a mix the size of large splinters, pencil size, finger size, and then up to wrist. Fuel is the big stuff. But you have to have a hot burning bed to get it going.

Tinder can be vaseline soaked cotton balls, steel wool, dryer lint, I've also used a 3" square of my T shirt. All you want is ignition. For tender I like splintered pine knot, cedar, or pine. Any wood lying on the ground is damp. Look for dead limbs hanging or somehow not in contact with the ground. Wet stuff is good later when you have a fire going. Fuel can be any dead fall.

Wind/breeze is a problem. So is wet ground so build a platform so tinder is not in ground contact. Make sure your body is between the fire and the wind. What works very well is a 12"x 12" sheet of heavy duty tin foil. It keeps tinder off the ground plus you can make a wind screen and it reflects heat that helps get it started.

As far as wet - pine cones dry out quickly and give a great bed of coals. Shag bark hickory really burns hot and the inner and bottom limbs of cedar trees do well. I always carry a small folding hand saw and pruners. Fire building is not as simple as most folks think and under bad situations can be very difficult. Got to practice to make sure you really can do it.