Which sequence best describes how Brian created and sustained his fire?

• A. He struck the hatchet on a stone, sparks caught, flame started, and he fed the fire.
• B. He rubbed sticks together until they sparked.
• C. He poured fuel on a pile and lit a match.
• D. He used a fire starter chemical.

Answer: (A)

Fire-making with improvised tools and careful steps is what this item is about. In the story, Brian uses the hatchet as a spark-producing tool, striking it against a rough surface to generate sparks. Those sparks catch on dry tinder, and a flame appears. Once the flame is alive, he feeds it with small sticks and then larger fuel to keep it burning and growing. This sequence—sparks from striking metal on rock, ignition of tinder, and deliberate feeding to sustain the fire—matches what actually happens. The other methods described don’t fit the scene: rubbing sticks together would be a different technique not used here, and there are no fuels, matches, or chemical starters involved in this moment.