What is the meaning of the title to build a fire

The fire is the method of survival in this environment. Learning how to build a fire is necessary; when the man fails at that task, he fails at living.

Much of this has to do with the time the man should have built the fire. The connection here involves the relationship between man and nature. Fire allows man to exist in extreme conditions if he knows when to call on it. This man does not respect the rhythms of nature and does not call on fire when he needs to, instead relying on his own strength and intuition.