Rule of thumb, take your time and do it right the first time. Step 1. Gather tinder, which catches the initial spark or flame and transfers it to the kindling. If the kindling is damp or wet, the tinder must burn long enough to dry out the kindling. You can turn dry sticks and pieces of bark into powdery tinder with a knife. You can also use: dead dry plants and grasses wax lint char cloth moss wood shavings paper pine pitch dry needles from coniferous trees fire sticks fir
