Fireplace

• Prepare for good fires with a clean fireplace. Ensure the chimney is clean and free of soot and creosote. Inspect it before the first autumn fire and remove bird nests, clean the chimney and check the chimney cap. An effective chimney cap keeps out wildlife and catches errant fire sparks. Clean the fireplace box, looking for cracks and removing ashes. Operate the damper, making sure it works smoothly and is not clogged with creosote or other debris. Replace the firewood grate when it warps or breaks from fire use. An ember screen, fitted to the grate, holds hot embers so that wood burns more efficiently. Install fire screens or glass doors for spark safety.
  
  

Fuel

• Seasoned wood, allowed to air out and dry about a year, provides a good burn. Softwoods such as cedar, poplar or pine are best used as kindling. These woods ignite quickly, burn fast and are a little hazardous as they pop or spark. Hardwoods such as maple, oak, locust or hickory are hard to ignite, burn with a high heat output and eventually settle down to hot, radiant coals. Fruitwoods such as apple, apricot or cherry are fragrant. Their heat value is variable but these sap-filled specialty woods are highly prized by some fireplace fans.
  
  

Fire

• A one-match fire is a well-laid fire that requires only one match to start the blaze. Crumble newspaper or other dry paper on the grate. Loosely stack 8 or 10 pieces of resinous kindling on the paper. Crisscross a few pieces of kindling and add dry hardwood branches or hardwood strips. Light the fire and let the chimney draw well, then add small hardwood logs. Another method is to crumple the paper, stack the kindling and hardwood branches, then top with two or three small hardwood logs to start the fire. When the base fire well-caught and burning, add hardwood logs and settle down to an evening fire. Using softwood as fire-starter ensures quick ignition and adding hardwood provides the long-lasting fire and coals.
  
  

Considerations

• A mixed wood fire provides a steady fire and requires little care. Safely light the fire with long fireplace patches or a fireplace starter, not with short matches or a pocket lighter. Use fire tongs or pokers when the logs need adjustment. Remember that coals may be dark and still be glowing red-hot inside the ash. Manufactured wood logs are an excellent alternative to conventional seasoned firewood, especially in areas where fireplace smoke is prohibited.