If you’ve ever ended up with stinging eyes and a jumper that smells like a bonfire for days, you’ll know how unpleasant a smoky firepit can be. Here’s how to light your firepit the right way – clean, easy, and (almost) smoke-free.
We just taken delivery of some top quality fire pits at the Garden Centre. Hand finished in Wales, they’ll look fantastic in any outdoor space. And with the right prep and a few tweaks to your fire-starting technique, you can enjoy cosy, crackle-filled evenings around your new firepit without the cloud of smoke. Just remember: dry wood, top-down lighting, and good airflow are the keys to a cleaner burn.
Start with the right wood – The number one cause of smoke is wet or green wood. Always use dry, seasoned hardwood like oak, ash, or beech. These burn hotter and cleaner than softwoods, and create less smoke.
Avoid:
- Freshly cut (green) wood – it’s full of moisture
- Painted or treated wood – it releases toxic fumes
- Softwoods like pine – they burn fast and smoky
Hildreth’s tip: Look for wood with cracks at the ends and a hollow sound when knocked together – both signs it’s properly seasoned.
Build your fire the ‘top-down’ way – Most people build fires with kindling at the bottom and logs on top. But there’s a smarter method that creates less smoke: the top-down method.
Here’s how:
- Place your larger logs at the bottom.
- Stack medium logs or kindling on top.
- Add firelighters or tightly twisted newspaper on the very top.
Light the firelighters, and let the flame burn downward. This produces a cleaner, hotter burn right from the start, with less smoke swirling around.
Use natural firelighters – Skip the petrol, lighter fluid, or those chemical cubes. They don’t just smell awful – they can add to the smoke and leave behind a nasty residue.
Instead, opt for:
- Wax-coated wood wool firelighters
- Natural fatwood sticks
- Dry newspaper
They’re safer, smell better, and don’t contribute to smoke buildup.
Allow for airflow – Fires need oxygen to burn cleanly. If your firepit is too tightly packed, or the vents are blocked, you’ll end up with more smoke than flame.
Tips for good airflow:
- Don’t overcrowd your logs
- Use a firepit with built-in air vents or elevate the wood slightly
- Add logs slowly rather than dumping them all on at once
Think of your fire as a living thing – it needs room to breathe!
Keep it hot and steady – A hot fire burns cleaner. If your fire is struggling to stay lit, it’s likely to smoke more. Once your fire is going, keep it fed with dry wood in small amounts to maintain a steady, hot burn.
Avoid:
- Letting the fire smoulder
- Adding huge logs all at once
- Dumping damp wood on top
Clean out old ash – Too much leftover ash from previous fires can block airflow and cause smoke. After your firepit has cooled, give it a good clean-out.
Dispose of ashes safely:
- Wait until fully cooled (a day or two)
- Store in a metal container
- Never dump hot ash in the bin or on grass
Bonus Tip: Position your firepit wisely!
Even a clean-burning fire can shift smoke your way with a sudden gust. Place your firepit in an open area, away from walls or overhanging trees. And if it’s a breezy evening, sit upwind!
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