I was out of town all last week when a cold snap hit home. I called my bride from the airport saying I would be home in a couple of hours. She said it was very cold and she couldn't wait for me to get home to get a fire going in the stove (VC Vigilant). She has never started a fire but I told her that she could do it. She reluctantly said "Okay, tell me how." I gave her a quick run down of how to load for a top down fire start:
1. Put two large splits in the bottom.
2. Put a few medium splits/sticks on top of the big ones.
3. Put several (10-12) tightly wadded newspaper balls on top of the wood.
4. Mix in several kindling sticks with the newspaper. (I keep a basket next to the stove of pencil sized sticks made from cedar fence posts.)
5. Make sure the damper handle is pointed TOWARD the door.
6. Light the newspaper.
7. Leave the front door open a crack until the fire gets going good.
I have given her previous training on how to quickly shut down the stove in case a fire gets away from her.
By the time I got home, the fire was blazing and the house was warming up.
I think I'll keep her another 40 years!
1. Put two large splits in the bottom.
2. Put a few medium splits/sticks on top of the big ones.
3. Put several (10-12) tightly wadded newspaper balls on top of the wood.
4. Mix in several kindling sticks with the newspaper. (I keep a basket next to the stove of pencil sized sticks made from cedar fence posts.)
5. Make sure the damper handle is pointed TOWARD the door.
6. Light the newspaper.
7. Leave the front door open a crack until the fire gets going good.
I have given her previous training on how to quickly shut down the stove in case a fire gets away from her.
By the time I got home, the fire was blazing and the house was warming up.
I think I'll keep her another 40 years!
