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THE LOG BLOG.

How to Burn Kiln Dried Logs the Right Way.

October 22, 2025

Whether you’ve just bought your first crate or you’ve been burning wood for years, the same rule applies: a good fire doesn’t happen by accident. It’s a mix of the right logs, good airflow, and knowing when to do what.

 

At Mortimers Fuels, we’ve seen every type of fire setup imaginable — from wide open hearths to tightly sealed modern stoves — and the same few mistakes crop up time and time again. So, this guide walks you through the full process from start to finish. Whether you’re trying to get your first fire lit without frustration, or just want to squeeze more heat and burn time out of every log, this is for you.

Set Yourself Up For Success

The best fires come from a mix — not just one type of wood. Every hardwood burns differently, and using them together makes all the difference.

Birch: Lights easily, burns bright and fast, gives off an instant heat.

Oak: Burns slow and steady, holds the heat, and keeps things going once the fire is established

Think of birch as your spark, and oak as your engine. Start with birch to get the flames rolling, then feed in oak to keep a consistent, long-lasting burn. A lot of people struggle with oak because they try to light it cold. It’s too dense for that. Use birch or kindling to get it going first — once it’s hot, oak performs beautifully.

 

Already stocked up on just one? No problem. You can still make it work — you’ll just need to build the fire slightly differently (we’ll show you how next).

Building The Fire

Start With A Clean Base

Clear away leftover ash so air can flow properly. You want a shallow bed, not a pit — about an inch or two of ash helps hold heat without choking the fire.

Stack It Right

Think of your fire as a structure, not a pile. You’re building something that needs air as much as it needs fuel. Here’s the method we use ourselves — and it works every time:

Begin with two smaller kiln dried logs at the base, next to each other, leaving an inch width gap between them for airflow.

Lay 8-10 pieces of kindling on top of the two logs directly above the firelighters, ideally in a jenga style pattern. The kindling can be substituted for a smaller birch or alder log, as they catch just as easy as kindling.

Place 1-3 wood wool firelighters above the kindling, it helps to unravel the firelighters slightly to help them catch.

Lighting Your Fire

Light it right

With your wood wool firelighters right on top of the stack, light them and watch carefully. The flame will spread downward through the kindling, lighting each layer below as it burns. It might feel backwards, but this method gives you a slower, steadier start and far less smoke.

Let it burn downwards

Resist the urge to interfere — the structure is designed to feed itself. As the fire burns down through the kindling into the smaller logs, keep the vent open and the door slightly ajar for the first few minutes to maximise airflow.

Add larger logs once the base is built

When the top layers have burned through and only the two solid logs remain at the bottom, you’ll see a glowing bed of embers forming. That’s the time to add one or two larger logs over the base. They’ll catch cleanly from the heat below and give you a strong, consistent burn.

Adjust for a clean flame

Once the new logs are burning properly, ease the air vent down until you’ve got a calm, rolling flame. You’re aiming for bright, relaxed firelight and minimal smoke — that’s how you know the burn is clean and efficient.

Maintaining The Flame

Once your fire’s steady, you’re in control with just the vent and your timing.

Too Warm? Close the air vent slightly or wait longer before adding another log. This slows the burn and stretches the heat.

Too Cool? Open the vent for a minute or two and add a smaller birch log to lift the flame back up.

Logs not holding well? That usually means the embers have thinned out. Rake them forward gently and place a log on top to rebuild the core heat. Consider adding some kindling or smaller logs to rebuild the heat.

Burning too fast? Close the air vents until the flame calms down and use the largest logs you have available. Stacking the logs tighter helps reduce airflow and keep the flame steady.

With a bit of practice, you’ll learn the rhythm of your stove — how much air, how many logs, and when to top up. Everyone's burner, room and preference are different, so it may take a couple of nights to find your flame. After a few burns, it becomes second nature.

Burn Out & Next Fire Prep

When you’re ready to wind things down, simply stop adding logs and let the fire fade on its own. Avoid shutting off the air supply too early — the remaining embers need oxygen to burn cleanly. If you close the vent completely, the fire will smoulder instead, which creates soot and smoke that cling to the glass and flue.

Once the flames have died out, close the vent to trap the remaining warmth inside the stove. The next morning, rake the ash gently to clear any large pieces. A thin layer of ash is actually helpful — it insulates the base and makes lighting tomorrow’s fire easier.

Before your next burn, check that the stove glass is clean and that you’ve got your logs ready to go. Keeping everything tidy and prepped saves time and makes lighting your next fire effortless.

Ready For Your Next Fire?

Make sure you’re stocked up before the next cold night creeps in. Our Birch & Oak logs are perfect for an easy fire experience, and go hand in hand together to help create the steady fire everyone loves.

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In Summary

Building and maintaining a great fire isn’t complicated — it’s just about using the right wood, giving it enough air, and knowing when to top it up. Once you get a feel for it, it becomes effortless. Keep your logs dry, your stove clean, and your woodpile full — the rest takes care of itself.

If you ever need more help or advice, just get in touch with us directly — we’re always happy to assist. A good fire should be something anyone can enjoy.

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