What To Burn   Use dry split wood for best results. Using wet wood will result in a smoky fire that is hard to get started and gives off low heat. If you are drying your own wood keep in mind that wood only begins to dry seriously once it is split to correct size. Allow around six months for proper drying to take place. We recommend split wood rather than round logs as they burn better and are less prone to rolling away from the ember bed. Before Lighting Your Fire Check that the damper is fully open. The handle should be pointing down. The fire must be operated with the damper fully opened at all times.   Starting a Fire You will need the following materials to build and maintain a good wood fire a fire lighter or newspaper (do not use coloured or coated paper) a handful of finely split, dry kindling in a variety of sizes seasoned firewood split into a range of sizes.   The Most Reliable Method For Lighting Our Open Fireplaces It is important to keep in mind that Aurora Fireplaces are open fireplaces and cannot be loaded or operated in the same way as a combustion (closed) fireplace. If you’re used to a combustion fireplace this method may take a little getting used to, however it is absolutely reliable, and when it is done properly there is almost no smoke right from the start. The most important part of this whole process is to use dry, seasoned firewood. The fire works by having the coals and embers from the top layer fall into the layer of wood below it. If the wood is wet it won’t catch on fire and you’ll become frustrated. Place two split pieces of timber approximately 40mm thick x 300mm long on the firebox floor with the ends facing front and back. Placement with the ends facing front and back allows the air to mix well with the fuel, rather than just hitting the sides of the wood. Place a fire-lighter or one piece of scrunched up newspaper in-between them. Stack two pieces of kindling approximately 30mm thick x 300mm long on top of the bottom pieces criss crossing in the other direction. Follow this by stacking a third row of fine kindling 20mm thick x 300mm long on top, criss crossing in the other direction. Repeat step four. Light the fire lighter or paper and watch as the fire burns down through the fine kindling and the kindling into the bottom pieces of split timber. Once the timber is well alight start adding more 40mm thick pieces of timber 1 or 2 at a time, slowly increasing the timber size as the fire burns hotter.