Why is wood split into slender pieces and the pieces of wood arranged loosely in the stove for cooking with the use of fine wood?

Answer 1

Whether for cooking or heating, and whether in a stove or camp fire, wood burns best when lit and built using smaller, slender pieces first, and in a "tent" or tepee style with one end touching the other pieces where they meet. Slender, small wood catches and burns fast. For a strong, long-lasting fire, pieces are arranged loosely, with thinner pieces at the center (tepee style) and a crisscrossing base at the bottom, then, loosely laying larger pieces of wood against the tepee on all of the outside edges. The larger wood burns more slowly with greater heat due to its mass. As the larger wood burns, it will break through near the centers; a human can use a tool or stick to push the untouched leftovers closer into the fire. Then, to keep the fire going, you'd add more large pieces at the outside edges. And repeat.