Ferro Rods &
Fire Starters
A ferro rod throws sparks in wind, cold and rain, long after a lighter has given up. The skill is in the tinder and the technique, so practise at home before the day you need it.
Check for fire bans first. On a Total Fire Ban day you cannot light a fire in the open, and that includes a campfire. Check your state fire service before you strike a spark.
What a Ferro Rod Is
A rod of metal that sheds a shower of very hot sparks when you scrape it hard.
The Rod
- Works wet, cold or at altitude. Wipe it dry and it sparks
- No fuel to run out and nothing to break
- One rod is good for thousands of strikes
The Striker
- A hard scraper with a sharp, square corner
- The square back of a knife works too, if it is bare steel
- Never use the sharp edge of a knife. It ruins the edge and it can slip
New Rods
- A new rod has a dark coating to protect it
- Your first few scrapes take the coating off
- You get sparks once bright metal shows
Prepare Before You Strike
Fires fail because the fuel was not ready, far more often than because the spark was weak.
Clear the Ground
- Use a proper fire ring or fireplace where there is one
- Otherwise clear the ground back to bare earth, well away from grass, leaves and low branches
- Have water beside you before you light anything
Tinder
- Fine, dry and fluffy. That is what catches a spark
- Jute twine pulled apart, cotton wool, very dry grass or fine wood shavings
- Make a loose bundle about the size of a tennis ball
Kindling and Fuel
- Gather all of it first, and stack it within reach
- A handful as thin as a match, a handful as thick as a pencil, then thumb-thick
- Dead and dry. If it bends without snapping, it is too green or too wet
Strike It
Hold the striker still and pull the rod back. Your sparks land in the tinder, and your hand never knocks the bundle over.
How to Strike
- 1 Hold the striker just above the tinder and brace that hand on the ground
- 2 Put the rod under the striker with its tip at the edge of the tinder
- 3 Tilt the striker to about 45 degrees and press down firmly
- 4 Pull the rod back toward you in one slow, firm stroke
- 5 Repeat until the tinder catches
If It Won't Catch
- Weak sparks: press harder and go slower. Check the coating is off and the striker's corner is sharp
- Sparks but no flame: the tinder is too coarse or too damp. Pull it apart finer
- Damp day: scrape slowly so a little pile of shavings from the rod collects on the tinder, then strike sparks into that pile
From Spark to Fire
A new flame needs air and small fuel. Most fires that die are smothered.
Feed It Slowly
- 1 When the tinder glows or flames, blow gently at its base
- 2 Lay the thinnest sticks over it loosely, with gaps for air
- 3 Add the next size up only when the last lot is burning well
- 4 Little and often. Keep the fire only as big as you need
Stay With It
- Never leave a fire, even for a few minutes
- Keep children and loose clothing well back
- Watch the wind. If it picks up, put the fire out
Other Fire Starters
Carry two ways to make fire, and your own dry tinder.
Arc Lighter
- Rechargeable and windproof, with no fuel
- The arc is tiny, so bring fine tinder to it
- Keep it charged and dry, and close the cap in your pocket
Lighters and Matches
- The simplest backup there is
- Keep them in a waterproof case
- Gas lighters struggle when they are cold or wet. Warm one in your hand first
Tinder You Carry
- Jute twine, waxed tinder or cotton wool in a sealed tin or bag
- Dry tinder from your pack beats anything you find after rain
- Top it up after every trip
Bow Drill
- Fire by friction, the traditional way
- A real skill that takes hours of practice
- Learn it for the craft. Don't make it your only way to light a fire
Put It Out Properly
A fire is out when the ashes are cold, not when the flames are gone.
Drown It
- 1 Let the fire burn down
- 2 Pour water over all of it until the hissing stops
- 3 Stir the ashes with a stick and pour on more water
- 4 Hold the back of your hand just above the ashes. If you feel heat, repeat
Look After the Rod
- Wipe the rod dry before it goes away. Stored wet or salty, it pits and crumbles
- Keep the striker tied to it
- Replace the rod when it is worn thin enough to snap
Use water, not soil.
A fire covered with sand or dirt stays hot underneath for hours, and the next bare foot finds it. If it is too hot to touch, it is too hot to leave.
Fire When You Need It
Ferro rods, tinder kits, arc lighters and camp cooking gear.
More From Know Your Gear
This guide is general information only. Fire rules differ between states, territories, parks and shires and change with the season, so check the rules where you are before lighting any fire. Always follow the instructions that came with your fire starter. In a life-threatening emergency, call Triple Zero (000).