I still cut and split logs and burn real wood myself, never had a fireplace with a thermocouple. If it’s cold enough to turn on the heater, it’s cold enough to build a wood fire. It does help that I’ve got an endless supply of paid for firewood, but it has to be cut and split first. So it warms you up a couple of times before you even build a fire 
Capt. Larry Teuton
Cracker Built Custom Boats
“Ships are the nearest things to dreams that hands have ever made.” -Robert N. Rose