The Top-Down Fire

Image from "fourhourworkweek.com" - link below

Thought I'd do a little post on this method of lighting a fire since I have been using it successfully for a couple of weeks. My folks saw this talked about on Breakfast and decided to try it. Basically, you build the fire from the bottom up (or "top down"), which means putting all the heavy wood on the bottom, going smaller as you go higher and ending with the kindling on top. I know, I know, it doesn't sound like it would work, but it does!

In fact, after you light it, you can basically leave it for 3 - 5 hours without putting any wood on it at all. I light mine about 6pm and it can last until 10pm or later with no tending (although I may give it a poke at the later stages). I can usually have both flu controls on the stove set to half. This method can take a little more to get going (throwing the paper on top) depending on your kindling, but is worth it I think.

Instructions HERE and a different site HERE (I used to use the parallel log method described in the second link for years which worked well with me - you can get a raging fire going in minutes, but the top down takes less tending).