Whichever way you start your fire, you will be amazed by the effect it has on your family when it fails to produce that awful smokiness so often associated by open fire starting. As if by magic, long lost pets, children and elusive teenagers will appear to enjoy the warmth. Use smokeless fuel and plenty of ventilation to create this ideal fire.
Steps
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Find a good handful of dry kindling for the base. This includes lots of scrunched up newspaper. You'll also need two handfuls of kindling for the top and three shovels of good quality dry smokeless fuel, such as home fire ovals.
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2Make sure that the grate is clear, the ash pan is empty and the chimney has been swept within the last 12 months. Place some kindling on the grate left to right with another layer on top front to back.Advertisement
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Build the fire. Add a good layer of not too scrunched newspaper try to lay it level.Build a kindling pile on top.
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4Place the smokeless fuel of choice on the fire pile. Add at least two shovelfuls; you can cheat and add a couple of blazers smokeless fuel compressed logs as well.
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Light the fire. When the fire is well established, you should be able to notice how the fire has a very hot center and the coals have begun to burn.
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6Keep the ventilation clear. Smokeless fuel burns mainly from the bottom up, therefore it needs air from underneath, so keep the air gaps between the grates clear, but beware any poking should be from underneath and only to gently clear the air gaps while disturbing the fuel as little as possible. Smokeless fuel, if stirred, will go out.Advertisement
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Tips
- You get very little flame from this fuel, so if you are after that blazing firelight, the best option is to place a well seasoned log/blazer on top.Thanks
- If you are lighting with an indoor appliance, ensure the ash and fire grate have been cleaned from previous use. This will help to avoid restricting air flow to the fire.Thanks
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Warnings
- Don't forget to always leave the fireguard in place in front of the fire, even if you are only popping out of the room for a brief moment. One spark can start a fire with incredible ease.Thanks
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Things You'll Need
- Dry kindling
- Scrunched up newspaper
- 3 shovels of good quality dry smokeless fuel, such as home fire ovals (and the shovel)
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