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How to Lay the Wood for a Fire

Laying the wood properly is the most essential part to starting a fire. There is a trick to it that requires more than lighting the first log and hoping the rest of the wood and flames burn consistently. With the logs properly laid out prior to igniting the wood, a successful fire can last a long time. A long-lasting fire can provide light to a camp site, heat for making food, or warmth in a wood-burning stove indoors.

Things You'll Need

Newspapers
Hatchet
Dry logs
Lighter

Instructions

- 1
  Scrunch up three to eight pieces of newspapers to make loose balls to pile at the center of the fire area.
- 2
  Chop the wood into small thin pieces for kindling. Lay approximately six pieces of kindling on top of the pile of newspaper balls, crisscrossed and all pointing at different directions. This ensures that enough air circulating around the wood in order for it to light quickly.
- 3
  Lay larger pieces of kindling on top of the pile, following the same crisscross pattern.
- 4
  Light the newspaper at multiple corners, allowing the fire to grow as it ignites the kindling.
- 5
  Place a maximum of three larger logs of wood together to create an arch in order to keep the flame burning.

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