When one strikes a safety match, the first step is

When a safety match is struck against the striking surface of the matchbox, the friction generates heat. This heat triggers the first chemical step in the ignition process: the conversion of a minute amount of red phosphorus (located on the striking surface) into white phosphorus. White phosphorus is highly volatile and ignites spontaneously upon contact with air. This initial spark provides the energy required to decompose the potassium chlorate in the match head into potassium chloride and oxygen. The released oxygen then facilitates the vigorous burning of the fuel, such as sulfur or antimony trisulfide, which eventually ignites the wood of the matchstick. While sulfur and binders like glue are present, their combustion occurs only after the phosphorus-triggered reaction initiates the sequence.

Sources

1. [1] https://www.britannica.com/video/chemistry-match/-208063