Does cedar make for good lighter wood?  Around these parts we normally use "fat" pine to start pine logs first, to get a good bed of coals going before putting on hardwood (in the fireplace.)
Do you have pine starter up there Rip?
Hehe, one time I placed a large pine stump in the fireplace (was drunk).  Once it got started, that thing sounded like a jet engine for a couple hours it seems.  Went outside and 5' flames were blasting out the chimney.  Looked way cool!!!
I was thinking, "Oh ****!"  But I kept a close eye on it, and all ended well.  The house didn't burn down.  Never did that again.  Couldn't have anyway, there was enough fat wood in that chunk to last 2 years.
That was a stupid thing to do, not only because of the fire hazard, but also because of the rarity of a piece of lighter knot that size.  About 16" diameter and 26" long...musta weighed 100 pounds. 
Les