Best fire making method?

I'll usually pick up things while out walking that'd make good tinder if I'm going to make a fire later. Dead pine needles, dry grass, wood shavings I whittle with a SAK, certain types of hairy moss....things of that nature. I'll gather these easily ignited substances into a small pile with a good sized stick poking up out of the ground in the middle. Lay tiny sticks of wood tipi style around the tinder, leaning on that support stick in the middle. Once things catch, just throw on slightly bigger sticks and work your way up. Real simple.
 
I am from Ky., also new to this site, and I have found the quickest way to make a fire, is with a hotmatch, (Boyscout kind will do.) and using dead, dried out goldenrod, left over from the winter. All you need to do, is gather up a small pile, get the hotmatch, or flint and steel to spark, and presto! instant flame.
 
Where I live there is an abundance of pine and spruce. Usually I try to find some larger fallen branches of pine, no problem if they are fresh on not, they will burn anyway. Then I gather smaller sticks, mostly pine too, and lastly I do my best to find a dry split log, with a grain as clean and straight as possible. I like my fuzz sticks made out of the best piece of fuel I can find, makes life so much easier. If not possible to find dry split wood in the wet bush (doh), then the dry, dead lower branches of spruce are my best bet. Fold them and set under your slightly larger sticks. Use a match or other means of lighting your fire.

Of course, being a boy scout, I like to remind everyone of the "be prepared" thing -why not carry all the modern means of tinder (as in candles, stove fuel, petrol etc.) with you, you are being prepared to light fire even if a tsunami strikes!

Can you see that I really find pine my ultimate firewood? :)
 
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