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About a year ago, I wrote in our Dockside newsletter about an embarrassing situation regarding my inability to get a fire going at a friend’s cottage. I’ve always considered fire-building one of my strongest cottage-related skills after many years of tutelage courtesy of my dad. But the wood was wet, I didn’t have enough kindling, and what I did have was not the right type. It was a failure from the jump.
In that same email, I asked readers to send me some tried-and-true fire-starting tips and tricks.*
“Good fire starters: egg cartons or coffee trays. Also, dryer lint inside a toilet paper roll.”—Claudia Hollows
“100 per cent cotton balls gobbed with Vaseline—good for on the go. For an indoor or outdoor fire, use birchbark, which is so much better than newspaper.”—Barb R.
“We actually put some kindling in the oven at 200°F for 20 minutes. It’s a great trick.”—Melanie Bailey Cox
And here are some products that you recommended. I even threw in a bonus suggestion that has recently found a way into my dad’s fire-starting toolkit. (I often rely on him for such things.)
This probably goes without saying, but please use caution whenever you’re working with fire or flammable objects. Alright, let’s get lightin’.
P.S. Dockside is our free weekly newsletter that includes cottage-country news, seasonal reminders, and cottage inspiration between issues. Sign up here!
*Comments may be edited for clarity and length.
accessories Qwick Wick fire-starters, pack of 65
“Qwick Wick fire starters are amazing. I buy a large bucket and separate them into small packages as gifts when we’re invited to friends’ cottages. They smell great and work well in fireplaces and woodstoves.”—Jeff Best
accessories Natural fire-starter cubes
“It’s always a good idea to bring newspaper, cardboard, and even a fire starter cube in a pinch. We prefer the wax/sawdust mix versus the chemical types. And never use charcoal starter fluid indoors!”—Donald Ross
accessories Pine fire-starter sticks
Pine is light and easy to split, often making it a popular option for kindling. Plus, it smells nice when you burn it!
accessories Fire blow stick
Here’s my dad’s recommendation. It allows you to blow on the coals without sticking your face super close to the fire.
accessories Propane torch
“Fire-starting trick? A propane torch beside the fireplace (safe distance, obviously), preferably with the yellow tank (it burns hotter), and a trigger start (no matches to look for). An old farmer selling cherry firewood told me that one years ago. Always best to have some dry kindling around, construction cutoffs in a bucket under the cottage are great! Just check for mice in the bucket before just carrying it inside.”—Bill C.
accessories Flameless lighter
Can’t light a fire without a lighter! This one is USB rechargeable and won’t go out in the wind.
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