Turns out I’ve been lighting fires completely the wrong way my whole life!
Hardly any smoke!
We all know the method, you place some small stuff at the bottom, then some slightly bigger stuff followed by even bigger stuff in a pile, boy scout style right?
Well, no. When you do it that way the small flames from the starting kindling ends up licking around all the bigger timber higher up, smothering the flames and creating lots of smoke. Sure it gets going after making a lot of smoke, but there is a better way.
Completely turn the whole thing upside down! Tightly place the biggest stuff at the bottom, then the middle size stuff followed by some small sticks and lastly the starter block under the smallest kindling stuff sits right on the top.
Turn your fire lighting world upside down!
One major advantage with this method is flue warming. Without all the big stuff in the way, your little pile of kindling burns bright and clear, sending lots of hot air up the flue kicking out all the cold damp air sitting there and getting a good draught or pull going.
The upside down fire method works as the hot little starter fire on the top has plenty of air as it gradually burns its way through each layer downwards, ending up with some impressively good embers and little smoke.
Who knew?
Give it a try and persevere if you don’t first succeed, old habits take some killing!
Stay warmIan
