What to Use and Not Use When Lighting Your Fireplace or Fire Pit

Getting a fire started is the first step to enjoying your fireplace or fire pit. You need three things to start a fire successfully: tinder, kindling, and firewood. The tinder is the initial ignition source, the kindling is the small sticks or wood that catch quickly and burn long enough to light the firewood, and the firewood is the main source of fuel for the life of the fire. At Primecut Firewoods, we believe that a great fire always starts with the right materials.

There are several commonly used options for tinder, but some can be dangerous or create excessive ash. Crumpled newspaper, for example, is often used, but it can float up and out of an uncapped chimney or away from a fire pit—putting nearby structures and even surrounding forests at risk. It also burns inconsistently and produces a large amount of ash. Using dryer lint as tinder is another popular option, but it can be messy, time-consuming, and potentially dangerous, especially when combined with melted paraffin.

Commercial fire starters are widely available at outdoor and home supply stores. Many are made with wood chips or sawdust bound together with wax. However, some brands include “additional components” that may contain chemical accelerants, which can be both physically hazardous and harmful to the environment.

It’s important to note that several materials should never be used as fire starters due to health and safety concerns. Colored paper, glossy paper, or magazines should be avoided because the inks and chemical pigments they contain release toxic fumes when burned. Evergreen twigs and needles should also be avoided, as their high resin content causes them to burn extremely fast and unpredictably.

Burning household trash is another unsafe practice. Many everyday items—mail, food containers, and even non-plastic packaging—contain chemicals that release hazardous fumes when burned. Gasoline or lighter fluid should never be used to start a wood fire, as they ignite too quickly and can cause explosions, uncontrolled fires, serious injuries, or fatalities.

The safest and healthiest way to start a fire is to use all-natural fire starter packages made from kiln-dried materials, paired with high-quality kiln-dried firewood. These natural components help fires start faster, burn more cleanly, and create a more enjoyable experience overall. They also produce fewer particulate emissions and less carbon dioxide, making them safer for your family and better for the environment.

For the best results, start your fire with premium kiln-dried firewood from Primecut Firewoods—because a cleaner start leads to a better burn