How to Build a Fire

If you’re ready to break in your new fireplace, building a real fire is a bit more complicated than throwing in some logs and a match. Depending on your fireplace and your fuel source, you’ll need to build your fire in a particular way. Your first step in any fire is to be sure the fireplace damper is open.

You check this by literally sticking your head into the (unlit) fireplace and looking up the chimney to see if the little metal door is open or shut. There is a lever to pull or push to open it if it is closed. Do this before doing any other fireplace preparations as you might get a surprise when you open it such as an old bird’s nest or other treasure. Once your damper is open, you can begin work on the fire itself.

Gas Fireplaces

There are two kinds of gas fireplaces. One has a pilot light much like a gas stove that just needs to be turned up to start a cheerful fire. There is likely a remote or switch for this. Another type requires you to turn on the gas using a knob off to the side of the fireplace and then to light the gas inside the fireplace to start the fire. In both cases, ceramic logs are used rather than real wood. The gas is the only thing actually burning.

Wood Burning Fireplaces

If you have a wood burning fireplace, the easiest way to start a fire is to use a fake fireplace log. These are especially wrapped to burn easily and last for hours. Simply place the log inside the fireplace, light it in the designated spots and enjoy some flames for a few hours. Of course, that sort of fire is not as attractive as a true log-based fireplace experience.

To build a fire using wood, you’ll need to find more than just logs. You’ll need twigs, newspaper and smaller sticks as well. The fire will be traveling through the various stages of kindling. Start by crumpling newspaper tightly and shoving it under the log grate. Then, place twigs and small sticks on top of the grate. Above the twigs, place sticks that are no more than an inch across and finally place a log or two on top and to the back of the smaller material. You want to leave yourself room to add more kindling as necessary.

Strike a match and light the newspaper in a few places. Sit back and watch to see if the fire spreads from the newspaper to the kindling. If it burns out, carefully add more newspaper and try again. You might also need to add more twigs to give the fire something to spread to. Soon, you’ll have a roaring fire and you can keep it going as long as you’d like by adding additional dry wood.

Easy Step By Step

• Open the damper
• Determine the type of fireplace you have.
• Turn on a gas fireplace to ignite it.
• Use an artificial fire log for a simple fire in a wood-burning fireplace
• Build a wood fire by adding newspaper, kindling and logs
• Ignite the fire using matches in a few places.

Warnings, Advice, and Suggestions

Be sure you are using dry wood that has had a chance to age. The older and dryer wood is, the better and faster it will burn. Green wood produces a great deal of smoke while burning as well.

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