Firemaker
Most settlers knew how to start a fire using a firekit. An indispensable piece of gear on the frontier, the firekit was a water-resistant container, often made of tin, with firestarting tools inside: a steel flint striker, a piece of flint, fragments of charred cloth (sometimes known simply as char or charcloth), and a handful of tinder. Tree bark such as red cedar made good tinder because it is very flammable (easily burned).
The person shown here is at one of the firepits at Fort Boonesborough. To start a fire, he first strikes the flint sharply against the steel to create sparks. Some of the sparks are caught in the charcloth. He quickly places the smoking char into a nest of tinder and blows on it to make the sparks catch fire. Once the tinder is lit, it can be used to ignite small sticks or bark. Once those are burning well, larger pieces of wood can be added.
Firemaker Photos
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Bonus Video
Length: 0:47
