How to Light a Wood Stove

Would you know how to light a wood stove if it were the only source of heat between you and a blizzard? In this day and age, people lack basic skills that could keep them alive in a survival situation. Read on to learn how to lay and light a fire to keep you from freezing to death.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• Newspaper
• Matches or a lighter
• Lint from pockets (optional)

How to Light a Wood Stove

1. Take each newspaper sheet and screw each sheet up loosely, trapping air. Lay each screwed up sheet as you finish it, in the firebox of the wood stove.
2. Empty your pockets and place lint on top of newspaper sheets.
3. Take dry twigs and small sticks and place them on top of the newspaper and lint. Make sure that any vent-holes (dampers) on the wood stove are open to allow air to get to the fire.
4. Strike a match or a lighter, and light ends of newspapers as close to the bottom of the pile as possible. When the newspapers are lit well, close the wood stove door. You will hear the fire "drawing" up the flue or chimney, as the combustibles in the firebox ignite and burn. Put larger dry sticks and dry broken up tree limbs on the fire as the fire needs more fuel to keep it going.

Tips & Warnings

• Heat water up on top of the wood stove if there is room for a kettle
• Cook on the wood stove if there is room for a skillet
• Place damp clothes and shoes/boots on logs near the wood stove to dry out
• As always, be careful with matches, lighters and combustibles
• Hot water may scald if handled carelessly

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