How to Light Wood in a Fire Pit
Fire pits are used as both a centerpiece and for cooking during outdoor gatherings. While fire pits are fun they can become dangerous if they're not carefully maintained. Line the edge of the pit with stones or a metal ring to prevent wood from spilling out. Check with local ordinances before making a fire pit to ensure you are allowed one. Does this Spark an idea?
Other People Are Reading
Instructions
-
-
1
Line the base of the pit with charcoal briquettes to provide an even burn after the fire has used up the wood kindling.
-
2
Lay out a layer of kindling over the charcoal. Kindling is made of items that can light and burn quickly, such as twigs, newspaper or wood chips. Make a small pile of kindling in the middle. This is where you will light the fire.
-
-
3
Stack firewood loosely on top of the kindling. Set up a tepee formation to optimize airflow throughout the wood. Use a few large cut logs as well as smaller whole sticks for the fire to feed off of.
-
4
Roll up four pages of newspaper longways. Insert each page's end into the base of the stack so that it touches the pile of kindling. Arrange the newspaper in the four directions of the compass; east, north, west and south.
-
5
Light each tube of newspaper. Allow it to burn into the kindling. The kindling catches flame in the middle and spreads out. The remaining kindling catches the main stack and the charcoal.
-
6
Use a poker to stir the embers as the fire burns down. This ignites any unburned wood. As long as you maintain hot red embers in the fire pit you can maintain the fire and the heat.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
Keep the fire at least 10 feet away from any objects or structures to avoid accidental spreading.
Allow the fire to completely burn down.
Bury the charcoal in sand to extinguish the final embers, and then dig up and dispose of the spent charcoal and wood.
Overfed fires can cause embers to fly away.
References
- Photo Credit Thinkstock/Comstock/Getty Images
