How to Build a Fire
Your fireplace certainly provides you with many great memories as well as offering warmth on a cold night. Knowing how to build a fire properly is a key requirement for long-term enjoyment. Before using your fireplace, review these simple guidelines to ensure a safe and satisfying experience.
First: Make the area tidy
Begin by removing any existing debris from the fire chamber. Depending on how used it is, consider using a fireplace brush to clean the inner walls of the chamber.
Second: Choose your type of fuel
Adjust your fireplace's flue until it is halfway open, and select a log to burn. If you are using chopped firewood rather than a packaged "fireplace log," ensure that the wood is fully dried before attempting to burn it. A mix of hard and soft wood provides the best results. Use soft wood as kindling, and use hard wood to keep the fire going at a consistent temperature.
Third: Secure the combustible
Place several crumpled sheets of newspaper on the fireplace grate. Add the soft wood in a flat layer over the newspaper in a platform arrangement, and place the hard wood on top.
Fourth: Light your fire
Use a lighter or match to set fire to the crumpled paper. Light pieces at opposite ends of the fire wood arrangement so that the fire progresses evenly, or use a self-feeding grate to maintain a flame. If this is not possible, light the paper around the middle of the stack instead. Once the hard wood catches fire, add more hard wood until you are satisfied with the quality of the fire. Adjust the flue as necessary to meet your heating requirements, and enjoy your fire!