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This is not a tragic thing but it does mean that the closest most of us have ever come to building a fire is turning the thermostat knob or watching the camp director create a bonfire.
However, as anyone with a fireplace knows, there simply is no substitute for a warm, crackling fire on a cold winter night.
But for us city slickers without any fire-building experience, how on earth do we get the flames roaring safely so that they last through the night without burning down the house? Building a fire is a process and there are steps to follow each and every time.
First, always clean the hearth area before even thinking about getting the firewood.
The ashes underneath your andirons or grate will choke off your fire because they will prevent oxygen from reaching the flames (remember, fire needs oxygen!).
Using your handy fireplace tools, sweep up the old ashes into the dust pan and dispose of them properly.
Now, you are ready for the wood.
One of the biggest secrets to a great fire is stacking the wood properly.
If you have kindling, place it first on the grate or between the andirons.
Otherwise, place smaller sticks and twigs on the bottom.
Fire builds from the bottom so you want pieces of wood that will burn easily at the base of the fire.
Next, the medium-sized logs should be placed with the largest logs set atop the pile.
The best fires will be built with wood that has had plenty of time to dry out.
Freshly cut firewood is practically useless and will not remain ablaze for very long.
However, you can purchase fresh firewood in the Spring and it should be dried out and ready for use by the time fall rolls around.
Now before you even think about lighting the wood be sure to open the flue because you will dearly regret it if you don't.
The inside of your home will quickly fill with smoke when the flue is closed and it could take months to get that smell out of the upholstery, carpets, etc.
! Once the flue is open, the ashes cleaned away, and the wood stacked, it is time to actually start your fire.
Now you may be tempted to use newspaper to start your fire but this is definitely not in your best interest.
Believe it or not, the ink in newspaper may damage the inner walls of your chimney.
At the very least, newspaper ink will cause the chimney to become dirty quicker and will actually add hefty cleaning expenses down the road.
Firestarters are actually the best option when it comes to getting the flames going in your hearth.
Though the exact composition varies from product to product, many are made using sawdust and wax.
The firestarter generally burns for 15-30 minutes and will be more than sufficient to get the flames going strong so long as the wood is dry, stacked properly, and well ventilated.
Just be sure to place a fireplace screen across the hearth opening to prevent flying sparks from damaging your flooring.
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