How do you start a fire in a fireplace?

[MeltedLemonade]

Got a new apartment about a year ago. I want to use it cause it's super cold where I am right now.

How do I start it to where it actually stays lit? I tried burning some cardboard and putting it underneath and it didn't work at all. I tried using my flamethrower but the flames don't stick well enough to the fire.

What am I missing?

[Masque]

One thing you should never do: never use the shiny paper in the newspaper to try and start up a fire. Only the regular newsprint paper.

The shiny paper will put a roaring fire right out. Fire departments should really look into this quality of shiny paper (the advertisements, magazines, etc. that are folded in with the newspaper) and figure out why, because you can use a few balls of this paper to put out even a nice roaring fire in your stove or fireplace. Horrible stuff, unless your goal is to extinguish your fire -- in which case, awesome stuff.

[Masque]

Agreed with the "Ask Your Landlord" part, too. First.

Also, wait for Tiny E to reply here. He can probably start up a wood stove or fireplace in his sleep, given that he lives where they average 14 feet of snow per year.

[Haruspex]

When was the last time the chimney was cleaned?

Flue fires are no joke, and if you've got a filthy chimney clogged with years of creosote they're much more likely to start.

[JK_Original]

I flip a switch, breh.

[HypersleepyNaputunia]

wad up ne2spaper, place twigs on top, place some cardboard on top , light paper.

cardboard wont burn ez directly need paper

[Neme]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1zplrcJPVRs

[Hairy Hands Harry]

Make sure you have some kind of screen or glass covering for the fireplace opening. Otherwise it is dangerous. You can get smoke and sparks or embers into the apartment. You may need a fireplace mat. A thick mat that is fireproof. Depends on how much tile area you have in front of the fireplace. As others have said, make sure the flue is open.