Laying a Fire

[mishalak]

I gather two handfuls of pine needles. I find that no more are needed. They are loosely packed as I place them in a long narrow pile from the front of the stove to the back. They serve to carry the fire all the way to the back quickly and burn away to provide airflow after igniting the next ingredient. Pine cones are placed on either side of the needle pile. They will burn for a while under the two large split logs that go atop them on both sides of the needle pile. There are a dozen or so cones, perhaps as many as eighteen, but no more. The goal is not to pack the stove with combustibles, but with a mix of fuel and airspace for the fire to breathe.

Across the two larger logs I put some sticks, long chips, and/or a very narrow piece of split wood. It helps to have a very rough 'roof' over the pine needles. Not totally covering them, but providing something for flames licking upwards to catch upon in addition to the pine cones at either side. With good airflow down the trench created by the two logs it will be up to temperature in ten minutes.