Trouble staring fire in a fire pit

DH and I tried for at least 1/2 hour to start a fire in our new fire pit last night but the wood just would not catch fire! It was totally dry wood, newly purchased.

We used plain paper as tinder and it burned as it should but the wood wouldn't even really smoke.

Any tips? We want to try again tonight.

Re: Trouble staring fire in a fire pit

Paul is the expert.. I'll email him..he goes camping twice a year and starts fires in a snap... stand by!!

Re: Trouble staring fire in a fire pit

We uses one of those logs that you buy at Stop and Shop...and then puts the fire wood on top of that.

Re: Trouble staring fire in a fire pit

Here is Pauls email.. copied and pasted:


Needs more kindling. Those logs won’t start with paper alone…newspaper is best to use or birch bark if it’s around. I would use some sticks, twigs, branches…make a tee-pee with newspaper in the middle and a log or 2 as part of the tee-pee. The kindling/sticks need to catch first, you’ll hear the crackling. Get that burning, the rest should be good, but make sure there’s plenty of kindling…still may need to use to keep fire going.Otherwise, for a quick start, use a duraflame log.

Re: Trouble staring fire in a fire pit

You need to build a kindling teepee first, stack up bunched up newspaper, small kindling, and then larger kindling in a teepee formation, let the larger kindling get licked by the flames from the smaller kindling, and once the larger kindling is really going, put some of the larger wood on top of that, being careful not to smother the larger kindling. Once you get some bigger logs going, you should be able to continue to put more firewood on them. Good luck!

Re: Trouble staring fire in a fire pit

Thank you both!! I need to start collecting sticks

Re: Trouble staring fire in a fire pit

DH and I use firestarter bricks when we go camping.
We have also found that potato chips work GREAT. all you need is a little flame, and those chips will go right up!