is there more to starting a fire in the fireplace other than putting wood in and lighting it?

Answer 1

There are right ways and wrong ways, I hope this helps:

As you gather newspaper, remember one word: creosote. Creosote is a black, dusty yet sticky by-product of wood and wood fiber combustion. It coats the insides of chimneys and can eventually cause a chimney fire, which can be very destructive. So, you're best off using a moderate amount of newspaper.

It's also a good idea to avoid using newspaper with color pictures or glossy advertisement inserts. Color inks contain chemicals which, at best, might smell bad when burned, and at worst, could be slightly toxic. You don't neccessarily have to cull all color from your stockpile of paper--but then again, you'll definitely want to avoid making a bonfire of your Christmas giftwrapping.
Very soft, resinous woods like pine or Georgia fatwood can be used as kindling, a few sticks at a time. (Don't use more than that, or again you're increasing the creosote levels unnecessarily.) Otherwise, use twigs and small branches that are about 1/4 - 1/2 inch (1-1.5 cm) thick and 12-18 inches (30-45 cm) long.

Some lumber yards sell raw scrap lumber for kindling, which is usually kiln-dried and ignites very well. Not all lumber belongs in the fireplace, however; most finished or specially treated lumber will release potentially toxic chemicals when burned, so make sure you're getting raw, untreated lumber.

Although all woods give off the same amount of heat when burned, hardwoods are heavier and burn more slowly and cleanly. This means fewer logs to put into the fire, fewer logs to fetch from a woodpile, and less creosote build-up inside the chimney (which means a safer fire). Softer woods like maple and elm are fine to use--just be sure you don't pay hardwood prices for them, because they won't last as long in your fireplace.

Prepare the site
A couple of inches (5-7 cm) of ash is a good base for the coals that will form from the kindling. But don't use more than that, or the fireplace area will start to get messy. Scoop out excess ash with a small metal shovel that commonly a part of fireplace utensils. Store the ash in metal cans or pails--embers can remain hot for a week--and adding live embers to a garbage can or compost pile is an obvious fire hazard.

Open the damper
If you forget, you'll remember once the smoke starts billowing into the room and the fire alarms go crazy.

Build a fire

You'll start from the ground up, being careful to make a structure that will hold together during the early stages of the fire. If you make a fire that collapses after the first 30 seconds, the fire may smother itself and you'll have to start over.

Here's where yesterday's newspaper comes in handy. The newspaper serves to ignite the kindling, which in turn will ignite the logs. Take four or five full-size (two page) sheets and crumple them up into a grapefruit-sized balls, or a little smaller than that if you're feeling energetic. Place them on the floor of the fireplace and under the grate, if there is one. Resist the temptation to add more than seven paper balls to the fire. You'll certainly have a dramatic start to your fire, with flames ablazing up the chimney, but over time excess newspaper use will create a lot of creosote.

Distribute and place for breathing. Add two handfuls of kindling. Distribute it evenly over the newspaper (or on top of the grate, if there is one), so that the logs will have fairly uniform surface to rest on. But place the sticks of kindling at an angle to each other to allow for air and flames to come through. Break up any kindling that extends far beyond the base of the fire, or doesn't fit easily into the wood stove.

Add two smaller logs to start with, rather than one monster log. And ideally those logs should be split. The larger and thinner surface area of a split log allows it to ignite more easily. As with the kindling, don't lie the logs on top of each other. Place them at an angle to one another, to allow air and flames to come through.

Leave out any lighter fluids or liquid fire starters! They're unnecessary and they increase the risk of fire.


Using a long wooden match or a lighter, reach around and light the newspaper on the side of the fire towards the back. Your goal here is to set fire to the whole perimeter of newspaper, simultaneously--so have a friend help you if you like. Have them start on the other side, and move around the perimeter of the fire, moving to the front, finding exposed edges of newspaper to set on fire.

Answer 2

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Answer 3

NO. Do not do it. I once stupidly in my youth put some petrol on the fire and the fumes went up the chimney and then ignited and there was a terrible explosion which back blew back down the chimney. It could have been worse. To get the fire going - find the smallest and driest splinters of wood. fold the paper corner to corner and then tie the length in a knot.. over and over. Put these in the grate first. Then position the wood slivers on top touching each other slightly. Get some cinders and put them here and there on the rood.. and then small pieces of coal or what you are using. Light from below. kneel down and blow under the grate so the breath blows under the grate towards the chimney and takes the fire upwards. If the wood is seriously damp.. then you need to put lots of paper and LITTLE wood so it dries out a bit as the paper burns. If you can find any cardboard then ripping this up and putting it on top fo the paper helps to get the fire going.. but really.. it all depends on how the chimney is drawing. Dunno how old you are but if you are of an age then you might recognize the term BLOWER where you have a board with a handle on it and putting this to the fire place its encourages and up draught - but you must know what you are doing or you could end up with a better fire than you ever anticipated!

Answer 4

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Answer 5

Large bits of wood won't light directly. Put in a few balls of scrunched-up newspaper. Then a few sticks of very thin wood on top, arranged in a cone shape. Light the paper, and wait for the thin bits of wood to light. Add one large piece of wood, open the flue fully, and wait for that one piece to be properly alight. THen start adding more wood.

Answer 6

Use paper, pages from unwanted books and just about anything that is easy to light and burn. Next add some small dry branches until your fire is well establish then you can add the bigger stuff later.

Answer 7

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Answer 9

put some tinder underneath. crumpled up newspapers work well. they catch fire first and help the wood to catch.

Answer 10

You need newspaper or a firelog.