The perfect fire is one that is putting out light and heat by means of a bright, cheery flame. I use whatever is handy to achieve that. Years ago I made an evening fire in the low desert near the Tinajas Altas using ironwood . The following morning all we had to do was put the coffee pot on the still brightly glowing coals - boiled right up. It took all our "processed coffee" to finally put that sucker out....

More and more, a fire is just recreational - something for the kids to roast marshmallows over, or it is a last ditch emergency measure. In both cases, whatever is handy is just fine, as long as it burns <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />