How do I start my fire?
Have you tried different fire-building techniques in your log burner?
Getting your fire started, can sometimes be strenuous.
But there’s no need to panic because we have you covered, with our top 5 different fire building techniques.
Here are the best fire building techniques to get your log burner up in flames, in minimal time.
Our Top 5 Best Ways To Light Your Fire
1. Bottom Up
The ‘bottom up’ technique is arranged from the smallest product to the largest, from the bottom to the top of the pile.
- Start off with a firelighter, placed at the bottom.
- Then place the kindling on top.
- After, complete it with one large piece of wood to cover it all.
This is one of the most common techniques.
Once you light it from below, the flames naturally spread upwards.
A downfall to this however, is that the log could be too big and smother the flame, leading to a shorter burn.
2. Top Down
The ‘top down’ is also known as the upside-down method.
This is a useful method in larger stoves and for a slow, steady fire and creates a longer lasting burn.
But keep in mind this method is not as effective with some species as it takes a longer time to light.
- Start placing the largest logs at the bottom of the pile.
- Proceed to add the kindling and smaller logs on top.
- Then place a firelighter to the top of the pile, so that once it’s lit the flames spread down slowly to the larger logs.
This is a useful method in larger stoves and for a slow, steady fire and creates a longer lasting burn.
But keep in mind this method is not as effective with some species as it takes a longer time to light.
3. Teepee
The ‘teepee’ technique is where you have the products formed in the shape of a teepee.
This technique is designed to achieve high heat. This is ideal when you need to get the stove hot quickly but takes a little longer to build, this due to the towering tent shape formed. It can also become quite messy as the structure can take a while to perfect.
- First, place two firelighters in the centre of the fireplace.
- Then you begin placing the kindling upwards around it, leaning in and forming a circular shape.
- After you place the logs around the outside of the kindling, placed upwards. So that they’re all leaning against each other in the middle, which then forms a ‘teepee’.
This technique is designed to achieve high heat. This is ideal when you need to get the stove hot quickly but takes a little longer to build, this due to the towering tent shape formed. It can also become quite messy as the structure can take a while to perfect.
4. Crisscross
The ‘Crisscross’ technique is a low maintenance method, which provides a platform for cooking over flames.
This is a useful method in larger stoves and for a slow, steady fire and creates a longer lasting burn.
But keep in mind this method is not as effective with some species as it takes a longer time to light.
- Begin, placing three logs sideways at the bottom, with a gap between each of them for airflow.
- Optional - This for a quicker burn, place a firelighter in the gap between the wood.
- Then create a kindling ‘Jenga’ style tower, where the kindling is stacked in alternating directions on top of the firewood. Do not make the pile too tall otherwise this will overload the appliance - 3 or 4 layers are best.
- Then to complete the technique, finalise with a firelighter on top of the structure.
This is a useful method in larger stoves and for a slow, steady fire and creates a longer lasting burn.
But keep in mind this method is not as effective with some species as it takes a longer time to light.
5. Lean-to
The ‘lean-to’ technique is mostly for outdoor purposes.
A ‘lean to’ is designed to shield dry firewood from the wind and rain and prevent the fire from going out or smouldering.
However, this is a useful technique to bring indoors due to its simplicity to build.
A ‘lean to’ is designed to shield dry firewood from the wind and rain and prevent the fire from going out or smouldering.
However, this is a useful technique to bring indoors due to its simplicity to build.
- Start with one large log which forms the underlying support.
- Then place kindling/smaller logs, propped at an angle against it.
- Finally place your firelighter in front of the kindling, at an angle.
Fancy giving it a go? We've got all you need to get your fire roaring!
Ecoblaze Natural Firelighters
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Ecoblaze Kiln Dried Kindling Wood
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