My wife was saying she needed a review of good fire starting technique, so here it is for all to enjoy.

• If there are ashes from the last fire, I use the shovel to push them to the back and sides (if many fire's ashes I remove some).
• Next, I make what I call a bird's nest with kindling (small twigs and sticks).
• I put a tightly rolled and twine tied newspaper in the middle.
• I put a firestarter brick (about the size of a chalkboard eraser--24 to a $10 box at WallyMart) in front of the newspaper.
• I put two fatwood sticks in diagonally in at the sides.
• Finally, one or two large pieces of wood on top-- try to criss cross everything to create air pockets.
• Now light the firestarter and the newspaper and viola!

Add a large piece of wood every 30-45 minutes and you are good to go.

I really don't like using Duraflame or similar logs-- they are extremely expensive.