There’s nothing quite like sitting around a fire. The cosy warmth, the mesmerising flames and the smell of woodfire smoke are the stuff of fond childhood memories. But most people would agree, building a (good) fire takes a bit of skill and know-how, and definitely requires the right wood. Whether you’ve got a fireplace or an outdoor fire pit, we take a look at how to build the perfect fire using firewood, that would make any Scout leader proud.
What Type Of Firewood Should I Use?

It’s critical that you use the right wood or you’ll be setting yourself up for failure.
Seasoned hardwood is the best for long-burning fires. Hardwoods are typically more
dense and rigid than non-hardwoods and as such, take longer to burn. There are lots of
different types of hardwoods such as ironbark, spotted gum, bloodwood and red gum.
The wood needs to be dry and not green for a great fire. Never use any kind of treated or painted wood as it can be toxic when burnt.
What Other Items Will I Need?
- Matches – the long type are great
- Kindling – small, dry twigs and sticks
- Firelighters, newspaper or straw
- Shovel
- Metal bucket (if you have a fireplace)
- Hose that will reach your firepit location/other water source or full bucket of water – to properly extinguish the fire
How To Build A Fire In A Fireplace

- Ensure your flue/chimney/damper is open to allow the smoke to escape
- Collect all of the items you’ll need to build your fire so they’re easily at hand
- Prep your fireplace. Shovel excess ash from previous fires out of the fireplace, and place into your metal bucket, but do leave a layer of ash as it helps get the fire started.
- Loosely ball up newspaper and place in the centre of the fireplace.
- Next, you’re going to place your kindling twigs and sticks on top in a criss-cross pattern.
- Now you’re going to light the newspaper in a few places. Keep putting in balls of newspaper until the kindling has caught fire.
- Next you can add your smaller dry firewood logs. Place them over the kindling in a tepee fashion or criss-cross stack like the kindling. Give both a try and see what you have more success with. Be sure to keep enough space between the logs so that air can get through. Fire needs oxygen so if everything is too compacted, the fire will quickly go out. If the logs don’t catch fire before the kindling starts to die down, try fanning the fire to get it going. Then you can add larger logs to keep the fire burning for longer.
- Enjoy your beautiful fire!
How To Build A Fire In A Firepit

- Check with your local council or fire department if there are any current, local fire bans before lighting any fire.
- Ensure your fire pit is located in a clear area at least 2.5 metres away from your house or other structures. There should be no overhanging branches, and nothing flammable nearby.
- Collect all the items you will need to build your fire. The amount of wood you’ll require will depend on how long you’d like your fire to burn. One substantial, dry hardwood log will burn for approximately 30 – 45 minutes.
- Ensure you have a long enough hose, bucket of water or access to a water source close by so the fire can be extinguished or in case of emergency.
- Start assembling your fire starting with newspaper/straw or firelighters. If using newspaper, loosely ball up it up and place in the centre of the firepit.
- Next, you’re going to place your kindling twigs and sticks on top in a criss-cross pattern.
- Now you’re going to light the newspaper in a few places. Keep putting in balls of newspaper until the kindling has caught fire.
- Next you can add your smaller dry firewood logs. Place them over the kindling in a tepee fashion or criss-cross stack like the kindling. Give both a try and see what you have more success with. Be sure to keep enough space between the logs so that air can get through. Fire needs oxygen so if everything is too compacted, the fire will quickly go out. If the logs don’t catch fire before the kindling starts to die down, try fanning the fire to get it going.
- Add larger logs to keep the fire going for longer. Keep watch and enjoy!
The Do’s And Don’ts For Fire Safety
When it comes to fires, safety should always be top of mind. Here are some key things you should and should not do, to keep you and your family safe around your fire:
- Do check for current fire bans in your area before lighting an outdoor fire
- Do not use treated or painted wood for fires as the smoke emitted can be toxic
- Do always watch your fire
- Do ensure your fire is in a clear area where there isn’t anything flammable anywhere nearby and where there aren’t any overhanging branches or other vegetation
- Do have the fire at least 2.5 metres from your house or any other structure
- Do make sure you have enough water nearby to properly extinguish your fire
- Do not leave a fire burning overnight
- Do not leave children unattended near a fire
- Do try to keep smoke to a minimum so as to not impact your neighbours
- Do not use flammable liquids – ever. This is incredibly dangerous and unnecessary
- Do keep your fire to a controllable size
For more information about fire safety and guidelines in your local area, check out your local council’s website or state fire service site. Here at Aussie Tree Solutions, we deliver what we think is Brisbane’s best firewood direct to your door. Dry, aged, Australian hardwood that has been ecologically sourced and seasoned to perfection, for slow burning, long lasting fires. Call now on (07) 3351 1722 to order affordable, great quality firewood from Aussie Tree Solutions today.