
Building a fire
You will need
- Some kindling, twigs and small pieces of wood. You can even start with some tightly twisted paper.
- Your firewood
- and of course some matches or a lighter.
- Place a twist of paper on the bottom of the grate and lay the kindling over it.
- Place two logs a small distance apart on either side of the kindling with the ends raised and facing out of the fireplace.
- Light the paper twist and allow the flame to set the kindling alight.
- Once the kindling is burning move the logs closer to the flame allowing the edges to catch fire. Be careful not to smother the fire.
- After about ten minutes of burning the logs should also have caught alight properly. Allow them to burn for a few minutes more before adding any more wood.
- When you add new logs place the across the old ones, this will ensure air-flow
Crack a window
Ventilation is important, both for your sake and to keep the fire burning.
Crack a window, it doesn't have to be open wide and let all the warmth out of the room but it should allow a bit of air enabling the fire to create a draft up the chimney taking the smoke away.