Top-down (upside-down) fire

The flame at the top warms the layer directly below. When wood is heated, it gives off combustible gases, which the flame then burns as well. Once the upper sticks have burned through, their embers fall onto the next layer and ignite it. That is how the fire works its way down step by step.

The big advantage: the fire is never buried under new wood. With an ordinary fire, adding wood presses cool wood onto the flame, and it smokes until it burns itself. In a top-down fire the fuel is already in place and is preheated from above. That is why there is usually little smoke once it has got going.

The chain must not break. The jump in thickness between two layers must not be too big, otherwise the embers of the thinner layer are not enough to light the thicker one. Think of a staircase: each step should be only a little higher than the one before.

At the bottom the wood must be especially dry. Damp sticks in the lower layers stall the fire exactly when it is supposed to keep going by itself. Lay the bottom layer of the thickest logs close together, each further layer crosswise on top and slightly thinner.

At the top you need enough tinder and the finest kindling. The small teepee on top has to produce enough embers to light the first layer of wood reliably. Do not skimp here – better to prepare a little more fine material.

The top-down fire suits a calm evening fire that should burn for a long time without someone constantly adding wood. It forms stable embers and needs little tending. Lighting from the top is also recommended for wood stoves because the wood burns more cleanly.

It is less suited to quick cooking: it takes a while for the hot embers to reach the bottom. It works poorly with wet wood, because the chain then breaks at a damp layer. If you have only a little wood or are in a hurry, a teepee is the better choice.

Even a fire that needs little tending must never be left unattended. Precisely because it burns for a long time on its own, it is tempting to wander too far away or fall asleep. Stay nearby and keep water ready for putting it out.

Check the local rules and current wildfire danger before every fire; fire bans always apply. Do not build the stack higher than necessary, so the flames stay small and few sparks fly. Never pour flammable liquids onto the stack, even if the start is slow.

Because the fire burns for a long time, there is often a thick layer of embers at the end. Put it out with plenty of water, stir thoroughly and keep pouring until nothing hisses any more and everything is cold.

Build your first top-down fire on an evening when you have time, at a permitted fire site. Gather wood beforehand in at least four thicknesses: thick logs, forearm-thick, thumb-thick and pencil-thick sticks, plus tinder and matchstick-thin wood.

Light it and watch without interfering. Where does the fire stall? Is a layer too thick or too damp, or are the sticks too close together? With every attempt you learn what the staircase must look like for the fire to run through by itself.