You know... I have a broken watch... and it is right twice a day!

I watched a couple videos too. and in the main one, you could see that the third log up the one side and the second one on the other were well engulfed when the rain came and put it out. If it wasn't for that rain, both those side piles would have burnt up. He got lucky.

This is a common way that we make a fire on a lake when we're ice fishing:

http://prepforshtf.com/build-feeding-fire-upside-fire/

It works really well, and the bottom layer keep the water from extinguishing it. will usually burn all day (depending on the height/size)