How do you 'set' a fire

[firesetter]

Oh for the love of god!
I have just been 'promoted' at work and today is first day in new role. Employer has asked for the fires to be set in main rooms for this evening.
I have no clue how to do this. Obvs I have cleaned the fires out. Fine. But what are they supposed to 'look' like? And how do I make sure they light easily? Why did I not look before today?? I am a housekeeper FGS.
Writing on phone, sorry for puncutation. Any help urgently requested.

scrunched up newspaper or firelighters on the bottom, then kindling, then logs on the top (making sure it's not too tightly packed so it can be lit easily). I usually aim for a sort of half-pyramid shape, leaning towards the back of the grate if that makes any sense.

We moved into a house with open fires few months ago. People moving out showed us to make donut shapes with the newspaper.. Reckon this will def give illusion of knowing what you're doing...!

I do scrunched up newspaper as well, with kindling in a criss-cross on top, leaving air gaps. Once it takes, I add bigger bits of wood.

here you go Get past the ads and watch.

thankyou all. I have filled the coal buckets up for 'top ups' during the evening and also filled up the log baskets (these are large logs though. I don't add one of these to set it, right?). There are blocks made from newspaper and small sticks, so I use these to start... right? Should I add a bit of coal too?

I am an expert fire-setter. Roll large sheets of newspaper then loosely knot the roll to form a form . Place about five of these on the base of the fire. Break up a couple of firefighters and place them over the newspaper. Arrange kindling in a crisscross cross formation over the newspaper then place small well dried logs on top. LIGHT. Once kindling is alight place a couple of bigger logs on top of the smaller logs - if it's a wood fire. If not place coal on top of kindling wood.

Has to be rolled and knotted newspaper IME. Scrunched balls of newspaper do not work. Some of the managers at work use the waxy firelighters but the stench of petrol/paraffin is quite strong.

god, pascha, those women are annoying.

We always had real fires when I was small amd never used firelighters. The rolled up/knotted newspaper with kindling then coal and/or wood approach should work..If you want to encourage the fire to draw, hold a sheet of newspaper over the front of the fireplace to create a draught, taking care not to let it catch light. I have used this method as a grown up too.

BTW, do people have gas pokers anymore?

Don't forget fireguards overnight and someone has to rake the ashes tomorrow!

We have a real fire and we use the middle pages of a newspaper as they seem to work better. We scrunch them tightly - around 6 balls and then build up to a pyramid shape with kindling. Once the fire is going we'll add a few small logs and then once it's properly hot, some coal.

The sausaged shaped newspaper probably looks nicer but do make sure you take the middle pages. Kindling on top in a pyramid and a few nice dry logs at the side. Make sure the coal bucket is full and the logs are arranged neatly at the side.

The fireguard should be just to one side so they know where it is and a fire extinguisher companion within reach.

we have an open fire and I 'lay' it everyday with...
2 logs in the basket, one on each side...
in the middle scrunch up some newspaper...
the some firelighters... you make these by tightly rolling newspaper and tying in a knot.. a broadsheet is best and you need about 6...
then a few sticks or kindling
and then a small log on top.
I tend to add coal when it's actually blazing.
HTH's

small pyramid of kindling with a couple of firelighters, few tiny pieces of coal once that's going, then logs .. bigger pieces of coal when the fire is going

if you need it to draw, hold a sheet of newspaper in front of the fire, holding it top and bottom

make sure it's packed loosely for air flow

we have 6 open fireplaces in our house. I have it down to an art form !

is anybody else rofling at "break up a couple of firefighters"?

"the backlog is the cornerstone of any good fire"

(from pascha's link)

(are those women actually women???)

Ponders -

you should find out how they like the fire to go....some people like to tend and nurture a fire dh arsing about with sticks and newspapers and bigger sticks and small logs etc

I like to light the damn thing and come back to a roaring fire....firelighters, plenty of kindling, BIG pile of logs and off we go!

Thankyou all. I had to 'set' it (not light it). Did as you said, added a couple of bits of coal and a log to make it look nice. It's roaring away now and everyone is very happy (THANK GOD)
I am so used to doing all the day-today tasks but predcessor did all the more upmarket jobs. God help me when I have to clean the lights

I love setting the stove up - us welshies call it "tan oer" meaning a cold fire. Lots of scrunched up newspaper, plenty of kindling. Its my therapy. I sit there & admire it. And can't wait to light it!

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