How to Light a Wood Burner Step by Step
A simple, repeatable sequence for lighting a wood-burning stove using kindling.
Before you start
Make sure the flue/air vents are open and, if your stove has one, the ash pan is emptied enough to allow airflow. A cold flue can cause smoke to back up into the room on the first light of the season — briefly holding a lit firelighter near the flue opening can help establish an upward draw first.
The sequence
1. Place one or two firelighters in the centre of the firebed. 2. Arrange a loose criss-cross layer of your thinnest kindling over and around them, leaving gaps for air to move. 3. Light the firelighters and leave the stove door slightly ajar or fully open the air control, depending on your model. 4. Once the kindling is burning strongly, add a couple of slightly thicker pieces. 5. When those catch, add one or two small logs — don't smother the flame with too much fuel at once. 6. Once the fire is established and the glass isn't sooting up, adjust the air control to your normal running setting.
Common mistakes
The two most common issues are adding fuel too early (before the previous layer is properly established) and closing the air control down too soon. Both tend to smother the fire rather than help it — patience in the first five minutes saves relighting it twice.