Built to Last

Lodging Manager Tony Gill shares a step-by-step for building a fire made to last this Winter. Whether you’re curling up by the fireplace for storytelling or enjoying the glow as friends and family bustle through the house for holiday fun, let your home be filled with warmth inside and out this season.

To begin, I like to find all the materials I need so I don’t have to do any searching as I am lighting the fire. I look for four to six pieces of wood, depending on the size of the grate and the fireplace. I like the wood to be roughly the same length as the grate so all of the firewood fits nicely in the fireplace. I use a few matches, two fire starting logs and plenty of newspaper as kindling while lighting the fire. The placement of the materials is important so the fireplace doesn’t smoke out. Let’s begin!

Ensure the flue is open and the fireplace is empty of all old ash and already burnt logs. First, place the two fire starting logs underneath the grate. Then, lay the first two pieces of wood parallel on the grate. The newspaper should go in between the pieces of wood (two pieces of newspaper should work).

To get the right shape of the newspaper, you’ll want to unfold one or two spreads all the way. Place two fingers in the middle of the newspaper and let the paper drape over your hand. Grab the paper with your free hand, taking your other hand out, and then place that paper in between the two pieces of firewood you have already laid on the grate. Repeat one more time to have a sufficient amount of paper in between the firewood. Once the newspaper has been placed, you can begin stacking the rest of the wood.

When it's time to light, light the newspaper near the bottom so the flame will easily catch the fire starting logs. Air flow helps the flames, so you can carefully fan the fire if needed. Remember to use dry fire wood and always be careful when tending to the lit fire or adding wood.