Settlers would not let the fire go out in their fireplace at night because they need the heat to stay warm. Log cabins are insulated with mud and straw, which are both flammable materials. If the fire were to go out, the cabin could quickly catch on fire. In addition, settlers used their fireplaces to cook food and boil water. Without a fire, they would not have been able to have a hot meal or a drink of clean water.