Here is how to start a fire pit with wood: check the burn rules and wind, build a small pile of dry tinder, lean or stack thin kindling around it, light the tinder at its base with a match or long lighter, then add larger fuel wood slowly as the flames take hold. No gasoline, no lighter fluid on a lit fire, and no trash. If you own a gas fire pit, see how to light a gas fire pit safely instead.
Before you light: burn rules, wind and placement
Check your city or county for burn bans before every fire, especially in dry months. Then look at the weather. Smokey Bear’s campfire guidance says not to build a fire in hazardous, dry or windy conditions and to pick a spot sheltered from gusty wind.
Your pit should sit on a noncombustible surface, clear of overhanging branches, fences and furniture. For setback distances, see our guide to fire pit distance from the house. Local code and your fire department have the final word.
Keep water and a shovel within reach.
Gather tinder, fire pit kindling and fuel
Have all three sizes of material ready before you light.
- Tinder: material that catches from a single match. Smokey Bear lists small twigs, dry leaves, grass and needles.
- Kindling: dry sticks thinner than about 1 inch around, according to Smokey Bear. Gather two or three handfuls.
- Fuel: split logs. Use dry, seasoned hardwood. The EPA says wood burns best below 20 percent moisture and recommends seasoning it for at least six months. For which species to pick, see our smokeless fire pit guide.
Fire lays: log cabin vs teepee vs top down
| Lay | How to build it | Best for | Trade off |
|---|---|---|---|
| Teepee | Kindling leaned over the tinder like a tent | Quick start, small fires | Burns fast and collapses, needs regular feeding |
| Log cabin | Kindling and small logs stacked in crisscross layers around the tinder | Steady, longer evening fire | Takes a few more minutes to build |
| Top down (upside down) | Big logs on the bottom, smaller wood above, kindling on top, lit from the top | Low tending, less early smoke once going | Slower to catch, needs very dry kindling |
Smokey Bear’s campfire guide lists the log cabin for longer lasting fires, and Home Depot’s fireplace guide describes the top down method.
Which is the best way to start a fire pit?
For most backyard fires, the log cabin is the easiest to get right. It lights from the center but holds its shape. Use the teepee for fast flames and the top down lay for low tending.
How to start a fire pit, step by step
- Clear the bowl. Scoop out old ash so air can reach the bottom of the fire.
- Set the grate. If you use a log grate, center it in the bowl now.
- Make a tinder bundle. Place a loose, fist sized pile in the center.
- Build your lay. Add kindling in a teepee, log cabin or top down pattern, leaving a gap on the upwind side so you can reach the tinder.
- Light the tinder. Use a long match or long lighter at the base of the tinder, on the upwind side.
- Give it air. Smokey Bear suggests blowing lightly at the base of the flames.
- Feed it in stages. Once the kindling is burning well, add slightly thicker sticks, then two or three split logs.
Using a log grate in your fire pit
A log grate lifts the wood off the bottom of the bowl. Air flows underneath, and the wood is not sitting in ash that chokes the fire.
The Ohioflame Round Log Grate is made from 1/4 inch USA steel with 1/2 inch radial openings for ash drop, according to the listing. It comes in four sizes, from 14 inches (for 20 to 24 inch pits) to 26 inches (for 42 to 48 inch pits), so pick the one matched to your bowl diameter. Build your tinder and kindling on top of the bars.
Products that help
Wood burning fire pits and accessories from Ohioflame that we carry. Prices are at the time of writing; “From” prices rise with size.
| Product | What it does | Key specs (from listing) | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ohioflame Liberty Fire Pit, Standard Base | Wood burning steel fire pit | Carbon steel, rain drain with blocker plate, 24 to 48 inch sizes | From $324.94 |
| Ohioflame Patriot Fire Pit | Wood burning steel fire pit | 24 to 48 inch sizes listed, 3/16 or 1/4 inch steel, rain drain | $1,028.40 (call to confirm size) |
| Ohioflame Heavy Gauge Fire Ring | Standalone ring or insert for a stone pit | 3/16 inch USA steel, 12 inches high | From $374.94 |
| Ohioflame Round Log Grate | Lifts wood out of the ash for airflow | 1/4 inch steel, 14 to 26 inch sizes | From $124.94 |
| Ohioflame Spark Screen | Covers the bowl to contain sparks | Fits select Patriot, Liberty and Fire Chalice sizes, made to order | From $314.95 |
| Ohioflame Fire Tools Package | Poker and tongs for moving logs | 34 inch poker, 30 inch tongs, hand forged | $112.99 |
| Ohioflame Fire Shovel | Clears ash and stirs out the fire | 34 inch, hand forged American steel | $59.95 |
Ohioflame notes its tools weigh about 10 pounds each, so make sure you can handle them comfortably. For finish, patina and warranty details, read our Ohioflame fire pit review.
Adding logs and keeping it going
Add one or two logs at a time once the existing wood has a bed of glowing coals. Leave gaps for air. Keep the fire small, not tall, as Smokey Bear puts it. Use a poker or tongs, never your hands or feet, to shift logs, and never leave the fire unattended.
What never to use
- Gasoline, kerosene or charcoal starter. The EPA says never to start a wood fire with them, and Smokey Bear says never to use flammable liquids.
- Lighter fluid on a lit or smoldering fire. Never squirt any liquid starter onto flames or hot embers.
- Trash. The EPA lists cardboard, plastics, foam and printed packaging. Smokey Bear adds aerosols, pressurized containers, batteries, glass and aluminum.
- Treated, painted or coated wood. The EPA warns these can release toxic chemicals when burned.
Troubleshooting: smoke or a fire that won’t catch
Lots of smoke: the wood is usually wet or the fire is starved of air. The EPA says a properly burning wood fire should make very little smoke. Switch to drier wood, open up the lay, and add a log grate if ash is filling the bowl.
Tinder burns out but nothing else lights: the kindling is too thick or too damp. Split it thinner and add a second, bigger tinder bundle.
Fire dies when you add logs: too much, too soon. Add one small split log at a time.
Putting the fire out
Smokey Bear’s method is drown, stir, drown, feel: pour water until the hissing stops, stir the ashes and embers with a shovel, add more water, then hold the back of your hand over the ashes to confirm they are cool. For family safety habits, see our fire pit safety tips for kids and pets.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best fire pit kindling?
Dry sticks thinner than about 1 inch around, or a dry log split into thin strips.
Log cabin vs teepee: which lasts longer?
The log cabin usually burns longer and holds its shape. The teepee lights faster but collapses sooner and needs feeding more often.
Do I need a log grate in my fire pit?
It is not required, but a grate keeps wood out of the ash so air reaches the fire. Match its size to your bowl.
What is the best way to start a fire pit without lighter fluid?
Use dry tinder, plenty of thin kindling and a log cabin or teepee lay, then light at the base on the upwind side.
Can I start a fire pit with gasoline?
No. The EPA and Smokey Bear both say never to start a fire with gasoline or other flammable liquids.
Compare pits in our fire pit buying guide, or call 866-777-2590, Monday to Friday, 9AM to 6PM PST. Orders of $999 or more ship free by freight, and smaller orders ship for a flat $200. See our return and refund policy for details.
