How to Start a Fire Without Firelighters: Expert Guide for Log Burners, Camping, and More

Need to start a fire, but don't have any firelighters nearby? Don't worry. While products like our very own Natural Firelighters make the process of starting a fire 100% fuss-free, you can still get the job done without them.

It will take more time, skill, and effort, but it's something almost anyone can learn. And it's a skill you'll be glad you have if you ever need it again.

When Should You Start a Fire Without Firelighters?

People search “how to start a fire without firelighters” for a wide variety of reasons. Most have simply run out of firelighters. Others find themselves in a situation where they cannot buy any (for example, when camping). Others still just want to try starting a fire without modern conveniences.

Are All Firelighters Made of Kerosene, Paraffin, or Alcohol?

Another popular reason people avoid firelighters is that conventional firelighters often contain kerosene or paraffin. These can release heavy soot and pollutants when burned. In fact, one scientific study found that kerosene-based firelighters emit more black carbon (soot) than all biomass fuels combined.

If this is the reason you want to avoid firelighters, you'll be happy to learn that there is an all-natural option available. They're called Natural Firelighters. They're made of all-natural wood wool and a thin coating of natural wax. What's more, they're not only more eco-friendly, but they burn twice as long as chemical firelighters and release more heat. Read our Ultimate Guide to Natural Firelighters to learn more.

But if there's a different reason for you choosing to go firelighter-less, read on. In this expert guide, we'll cover alternatives to firelighters, natural ignition methods, and essential safety practices. These will help you start any firewood, BBQ fire, and briquette fire, even if you don't have any kindling nearby.

Lekto Natural Firelighters are the most convenient, eco-friendly way to start a fire.

You Might Also Like:

How to Store Firewood Logs

Ultimate Guide to Log Burner Vents

6 Best and 6 Worst Firewood to Burn

Top 10 Free Household Alternatives to Firelighters 

As many members of more experienced generations already know, many common items around the house can light a fire. Here are tried-and-true DIY firestarters and improvised substitutes for commercial firelighters. You probably already have most of these at home.

• Crumpled Newspaper. A truly classic method that's been used for hundreds of years. Crumple several pages into loose balls or make newspaper knots by rolling the sheets tightly and then tying them in a loop. Place these under your logs or charcoal. When lit, a roll of newspaper will burn quickly and ignite nearby wood. This method works best with kindling.
  Cardboard & Paper Tubes. Here's an option that doesn't require kindling. Toilet paper rolls or paper towel cores can be stuffed with wood shavings, briquette dust, or whatever else you have lying around. This creates an improvised firefighter that can work surprisingly well.
• Paper Egg Cartons with Wax. A great way to reuse old egg cartons. Cut an old paper egg carton into sections, fill cups with combustible material, and pour in melted (leftover candle) wax. Once solid, these mini-briquettes catch fire easily, and a single briquet burns for around 15 minutes. This is ample time to ignite even large logs. The drawback? Candles are made of paraffin, so if you want an all-natural alternative, it's best to stick with Natural Firelighters.
• Cotton Balls & Vaseline. Spread petroleum jelly (Vaseline) onto cotton balls or cotton pads (whatever you have nearby) to mimic a firelighter. The oily cotton lights quickly and burns slowly, giving a strong initial flame. Store them in zip bags for added convenience.
• Tealight Candles or Wax Candles. As many of you already know, tealight candles make great improvised firelighters. Light a few and put them at the end of a log. The steady candle flame will heat and ignite the wood. Once again, this is an effective method, but it does involve paraffin.
• Pine Cones, Wood Shavings, and Firewood Bark. Dry natural tinder from what you have lying around the yard is always a great option. Thin wood shavings, wood wool, or the bark from twisted pine cones are excellent kindling.
• Split Kindling Wood. If you're a Lekto customer, chances are you swear by our premium kindling. Lekto’s hardwood kindling packs contain small split sticks designed to catch flame easily. Split them into smaller chunks with a knife, and what you get is a very easy-to-light firelighter alternative with no real downsides (except the two minutes it takes to cut them into smaller chunks).
• Used Tea Bags. If you're not overly posh, then chances at least some of your tea starts life in the form of a tea bag. A tea bag that you then throw away. Did you know that you've been throwing away perfectly good firelighters? Dry used tea bags have fibrous paper and residual oils. For added effect, soak them in wax and let them dry. They can be a lifesaver when you need them.
• Citrus Peels. Another thing you're probably throwing away. Fresh orange or lemon peels contain plenty of flammable oils. All you need to do is dry them. When lit, they burst into a surprisingly effective flame. On top of that, they release a pleasant aroma. This makes them a natural and fragrant fire-starter.
• Corks & Wax. If you drink wine (and if you're like us, you do), then chances are you have ready access to wine corks. Simply dip them in candle wax and let them harden. Wax-soaked corks make durable, long-burning starters that are surprisingly effective.
  

Starting a fire with a flint is a classic method that can work if you have kindling.

4 Natural Camping Fire-Starting Methods (No Artificial Materials)

If you’re adventurous (or in the wild), you can start fires without any prepared firestarters at all. These primitive but effective methods rely on sparks, friction, or the sun. You'll need to supply your own tinder for them to work, but that's the only extra thing required.

• Flint & Steel (Ferro Rod). Strike a piece of high-carbon steel or ferrocerium rod against flint or another sharp rock. The sparks will ignite a tinder bundle of dry grass, birch bark, or char cloth. Survival experts note you need good tinder to catch the tiny sparks. For example, using a ferrocerium rod (aka firesteel) is standard practice in modern camping. Metal striker kits often come with a cord and steel scraper. The sparks are extremely hot, however, so make sure to exercise caution.
  

• Battery & Steel Wool. A modern lifehack loved by tech enthusiasts. Press the terminals of a 9V battery against fine steel wool. The contact causes an electrical short that ignites the steel wool almost instantly. Light the glowing wool to ignite your tinder. A word of warning, very hot sparks will fly. Keep your distance. And keep some water nearby in case you light something you didn't intend to light.
  

• Magnifying Glass or Ice Lens. On a sunny day, you can focus sunlight to a point. Use a magnifying glass, eyeglasses, or even a clear ice lens to concentrate rays on your tinder. This requires bright sun and some patience, but it works. Tiny hot spots appear. The temperatures will rise and rise, gradually igniting the tinder. Sunglasses or an old camera lens can serve too.
  

• Friction (Fire Drill/Bow Drill). Rubbing wood on wood will create a fire. All you need is some friction. For example, a bow drill uses a cord wrapped around a spindle, pushed back and forth rapidly, creating heat through friction against a hearth board. This is advanced and tough, but indigenous cultures used it for millennia. Please note that it requires very dry wood. Preferably of softwood variety.

How to Light a Log Burner Without Firelighters

If you have a wood stove or fireplace, the most reliable fire starting method is the “top-down” fire, which is also called the upside-down fire or the Swiss method. Instead of stacking kindling at the bottom, you build from the largest logs up. Top-down fires burn downward with less smoke, fewer PM emissions, and virtually fool-proof ignition.

1. Prepare Dry Wood and Kindling. Use only dry logs. Quality kiln-dried logs are your best bet.
2. Build a Pyramid from the Bottom. Place the largest logs flat on the grate. Add a layer of smaller split logs on top of them. On top of that, another layer of smaller pieces. Each layer’s wood should be somewhat smaller than the one below.
3. Add Kindling. Lay a bunch of softwood kindling on the topmost layer of logs. This helps transfer fire quickly downward.
4. Paper on Top. Finally, take rolled newspaper knots or tinder bundles and place them on the very top of the pile. Twist paper sheets into tight tubes and knot them so they stay lit longer. If you don't have time, balling them also works, but isn't as effective.
5. Light the Paper. Light one or several pieces of the newspaper on top. If your stove has a glass window, you can usually just crack the door open and start the paper burning. The flame will slowly work downward through the stack. Keep the air vent (damper) open slightly to encourage airflow.
   

Safety Practices When Starting Fires

As anyone will tell you, safety is crucial any time you start a fire, especially with unconventional methods. Follow these best practices to make sure you keep yourself and your loved ones safe. By observing these safety steps, you can confidently use alternative fire-starting methods with minimal risk.

• Ventilation. Carbon monoxide is a silent killer. So always light stoves or indoor burners with the damper open. Chimneys and flues must be clear, which can only be guaranteed by having your chimney swept and inspected every year (read our expert article about hiring a chimney sweep).
• No Accelerants (Ever). Never use petrol, kerosene, alcohol, or other accelerants when starting a wood fire. They can cause explosive flare-ups and release toxic fumes. Even those popular novelty braai fluids are risky. It's safer to take your time and use the expert-approved methods we've listed above.
• Proper Tools. Ideally, use long matches (aka fireplace matches) or a long lighter for initial sparks. Keep flammable materials away until ready. For top-down fires, handle logs with gloves; they can jump out when hot.
  
• Protect Eyes & Hands. Sparks from steel wool or sparks from flint can fly and end up in places you don't want them to end up in. So if you're using these methods, wear eye protection. Don’t wear loose clothing near flames.
  
• Check Local Regulations. Outdoor burning (even BBQs) may be restricted during high fire-risk days or your home being in a Smoke Free Area. Ensure your first is legal and safe.
  
• Children & Pets. Keep them at a safe distance during ignition. Once the fire is lit, establish a barrier if needed.
  
• Dispose of Ashes Safely. When done, cover the coals with water or sand to fully extinguish. Even seemingly dead embers can reignite.
  

Frequently Asked Questions

What can I use instead of firelighters?

Many household items ignite easily: crumpled newspaper, egg cartons filled with wax and lint, cotton balls smeared with petroleum jelly, dryer lint, pine cones, or even used tea bags dipped in wax. Citrus peels, tealight candles, and wax-soaked corks are also good alternatives. The key is having something fibrous or oily that catches flame fast.

How do I light a log burner without firelighters?

Build a fire using the top down method. Lay large dry logs at the bottom, stack smaller logs on top, then add kindling and paper at the very top. Light the paper; the fire burns downward. Alternatively, use the traditional bottom-up approach with lots of paper and twigs at the base. Always use dry wood – Lekto’s kiln-dried logs are ideal.

How can I start a BBQ without lighter fluid?

Use a charcoal chimney starter or create a paper fire under the coals. The flames will ignite the coals above. No lighter fluid needed. And the charcoal doesn't impart any chemical tastes to your food.

Are homemade fire-starting methods safe?

Yes, when done carefully. You just have to keep in mind several key points. Never ever pour flammable liquids on a fire, since this is extremely dangerous. Always start with a small, contained flame and build up a controlled fire from there. Keep water or a fire extinguisher handy, and supervise the fire until it’s established.