How can you make a fire with only one stick?

Twist a fine piece of steel wool into a 'string.' Touch each side to opposite ends of a battery, and it will spark and ignite.

Flint and steel

You can also use a magnifying glass to focus the heat of the sun or you could just use a lighter. You can also use a bow to spin a stick of wood rapidly to produce heat, the same effect can be obtained by rubbing a stick rapidly against another piece of wood.

There are hundreds of ways to start a fire without matches. Swedish Firesteel or BlastMatch are very popular. However, the most reliable way to do it without tools or supplies is by using a bow drill (using the hand drill described above gets you blisters more often than an ember for a fire). You don't need a knife to make one and can use your shoelace for the bow string. It usually takes 30 mins to an hour the first time you use one. But, it can save your life if you get lost.