Assuming you're talking about a fire out on the trail.... I believe in always carrying several firestarters which consist of -- EZ Fire (out of Salt Lake City, Utah) its a small plastic pouch filled with a jelly like substance. Place it on TOP of your kindling and lite the edge of the pouch, it ignites everything it touches. Also carry old fashioned candle to place Under your tinder. Last I also carry a 35mm film canister of Calcium Carbide pieces. Its the stuff miners use in their headlamps. When it gets wet, it gives of flamable gas ( think its acetelyne ) just place it Under your tinder and wet it ( which if its raining or snowy is real easy ) ans place a match near it to ignite the gas fumes.

Carrying a large fixed blade knife is really handy too since if all the wood you find is wet, you can use the knife to split and shave the wood to get to the dry center pieces whic you need to start the fire.

Highly reccommend lots of practice in your driveway so when you really need to have a fire, its not the first time.

Good Luck!