Everything You Need to Know About Starting a Fire and Maintaining Your Fireplace

A focal point of any living room and a favorite place to gather around in the winter (preferably with some hot cocoa), the fireplace is an essential part of any home—or any home that's lucky enough to have one, that is. And while the décor and technologies surrounding the warming structure may have changed over the years, one thing remains the same: the use of fire. It's a powerful and oftentimes dangerous element that requires care, even after it's been extinguished. That's why we're breaking down the ways to safely start a fire and explaining the best steps to dispose of its aftermath.

The mantelpiece sets the stage for tools that are both decorative and essential to stoking a flame. While starting a fire might seem easy, ensuring it's done properly and safely is key. An important part of the process is kindling, or rather combustible small sticks or twigs specifically used for starting a blaze—which is different than firewood. In fact, firewood (which should be properly dried before use) is placed atop the kindling and tinder, to assist in a long-lasting burn.

Another important fireplace basic is the significance of depositing ashes safely. While starting a fire is pretty straightforward, the cleanup is a major step in fire safety. And whether Christmas is around the corner and you're preparing for Santa's annual visit, or you simply want to brush up on proper fireplace care, ensuring a harmless and clean hearth is a must.

From discerning the best wood to burn, to cleaning the embers long after the flame has gone out, take a look at our essential fire starting and fireplace basics tips.

If your fireplace has an adjustable damper, open it all the way. Begin by crumpling single sheets of newspaper or other tinder into grapefruit-size balls, or twist them into batons, and place one or two underneath the grate or in between the andirons on the floor of the firebox. Next, place strips of newspaper on top of this pile.

Lay six to 12 pieces of kindling in a crisscross formation on top of the crumpled newspaper on the grate or in between the andirons. Be sure to leave spaces between the sticks for air circulation.

Place a couple of thin, split logs on top of the tinder and kindling. Remember to arrange the logs and paper loosely so air can circulate.

Light the tinder with a long match and when the fire is going and the small split logs are burning steadily, add two more small logs and one larger log. Leave at least an inch between them so the flame can breathe. As the warm air rises up the chimney and into the room, cool air is sucked up into the spaces between the logs, fanning the flames. It's important to not overfeed the fire, which can smother it or cause a dangerous out of control blaze.

A fire will die down on its own, as long as you don't interfere. Leave the fire alone and allow the ashes to cool completely for up to a day before removing them. Once cooled, sweep ashes and coal into a metal coal hood—never into a garbage bag or can. Take it outside, away from the house, and leave for another day to make sure all embers have died. Ashes can be deposited onto flowerbeds around the garden since they benefit roses and other flowers.

As tinder is what ignited the kindling and is the first thing to catch fire, it should consist of highly flammable material such as brown bags, twisted newspaper, applewood chips, dried hemlock and birch twigs, birch bark, and the feathery tips of dried pine branches. However, be sure to not use paper with colored inks, since it can leave a flammable residue in the chimney.

Kindling, such as pine and birch twigs, is placed on top of tinder and will stay ablaze long enough to set fire to the logs. Dry corncobs, pinecones that are well-dried and free of sap, and fatwood (highly flammable, resin-laden sticks from coniferous trees) are also good fire starters.

Firewood must be properly dried before use. Freshly cut, or "green," wood is still full of water and will burn unevenly, producing smoke, ash, and unwanted smells. Tiny radial cracks along the cross-sections of a split log indicate that the wood is fully dry and ready to use. Hardwood logs from broad-leafed deciduous trees are ideal. Hickory, oak, maple, ash, beech, and birch are good choices. We prefer the last option as it leaves no ash. For fragrance, try cherry, pear, and pecan wood. Softwood logs from needle-and cone-bearing trees should only be used for tinder and kindling since they burn very quickly.

It is essential to hire a chimney sweep for a professional cleaning of your firebox and chimney at least once a year, ideally each spring. Be mindful of creosote and soot. Creosote is a brown or black residue that appears on the inner surface of the flue liner. When wood is burned slowly, it produces tar and other organic vapors, which combine with expelled moisture to form creosote. Excessive creosote can occur because of restricted air supply, and it is extremely combustible—it's the major cause of most chimney fires. Soot is the carbonized deposit of fine black particles and, when wet, can stain very quickly.

To remove soot, use dry methods of cleaning. Start by vacuuming the stained area using the dust-brush tool of your vacuum. Never rub with a cloth or rag, which will only spread or smear the soot. Use a dry sponge to rub the stained area in even, light strokes in one direction. Start at the top and work down. Only after removing the bulk of the soot should you wipe the area with a cloth dampened with an all-purpose cleaner and warm water, if necessary.