MODERN METHODS OF LIGHTING A FIRE
Mathes, lighter
If you have matches or a fire starter, lighting a fire should not be a problem. Whenever you're starting a fire, you should begin with kindling. Simply put it on the ground and put fire to it. Once it ignites add some kindling, like very small twigs. In the beginning, you have to add them carefully, not to quench the fire, but once the fire grows, gradually increase the amount of kindling and increase its size and thickness till you get to fuel thick enough to burn for a longer period of time without supervision - and there is your fire.
The most important thing you should care about is to protect matches or fire starter from getting wet. When Wet, they are useless. Store them in a waterproof container. You can also buy or make waterproof matches, but still it is recommended to protect them from moisture.
Convex lens
This method is more difficult and has limitations, because it can be used only during sunny days. Lenses that may prove good for this purpose can be found in binoculars, cameras, telescopic sights, or magnifying glasses. Once you obtain a lens, prepare some tinder and put it on the ground so that it is exposed to sun. You must take special care to provide protection from the wind. Remember to have more tinder and kindling within your reach. Angle the lens to concentrate the sun's rays on the tinder. The perfect focus is achieved when instead of a wide circle of focused light you see a small bright dot. Hold the dot at the same spot until the tinder begins to smoulder. If the sun is strong and tinder good you may achieve a flame within a couple of seconds. If smouldering continues, but flame does not start, gently blow or fan the tinder into flame. From then on proceed as with matches adding gradually new tinder, kindling and fuel.
Metal Match
Metal match has many names. Its second most common name is magnesium match. This is a very reliable tool and is practically independent of the weather. It should ignite whether dry or wet. Yet using it requires some practice. Metal match creates sparks which temperature can reach even up to 3000o Celsius. To start a fire with a metal match, place your tinder on a dry leaf or a wide piece of bark. Then place the tip of the metal match on the exposed part of leaf or bark, but as close to the tinder as possible. Hold the match in one hand and scrape the metal match with your knife or other piece of ordinary metal using its edge - this will produce sparks. When the sparks hit the tinder it should start to smoulder. Then proceed as above - blow or fan the tinder into flame.
Battery
An ordinary battery, just like the ones used in cars, can be used to start a fire. If you attach wires to both terminals and put their other bare ends together, they will generate sparks. You can use these sparks to ignite tinder. Be very careful to touch only isolated, dry parts of wires as high voltage can be dangerous.
Methods described above require you to have tools made by man, which you probably will not be able to manufacture on your own. Continue learning about primitive methods of starting a fire. Majority of people when faced with a survival situation are not equipped with fire starters, metal matches or convex lenses. In such instances ”primitive” methods turn out to be the only ones available.