Outdoor Burning

Different outdoor burning appliances

Firepit: 

Firepits are ideal for creating an al fresco lounge space – an extension of your home where you can relax, socialize and even cook. Like indoor wood burners, firepits provide the focal point for an outdoor sitting area and look even better surrounded by outdoor seating and people.

Why buy a firepit:

🔥Ideal for alfresco dinner parties

🔥Creates a cosy atmosphere

🔥Useable all year round

🔥You can cook on it

Chimeneas: 

Why buy a chimenea:

🔥 Flames are directed up and out of the well-designed stack of the chimenea, giving much more of a controlled burn

🔥 Incredibly good outdoor heaters

🔥Very durable and have extremely good heat retention

🔥You can cook nearly any type of food on it

🔥Both cast iron or clay chimeneas create an inviting space outdoors

🔥They light amazingly well with our Flamers Natural Firelighters and kiln dried logs

The Dos & Don'ts of Outdoor Burning

There is now a vast array of outdoor appliances that are used at home, by pubs and restaurants for alfresco dining and of course campsites – who doesn’t like to sit around a log fire when on holiday enjoying the great outdoors?

We have a range of fuels and packs that meet the needs of all types of appliances for outdoor cooking, but if we look at the different types of appliances and the best fuel for each, lets just talk about some common fundamentals for all.

1. Just because you are burning wood outside, it does not mean you can burn anything.
2. Do not burn old pallets or treated or painted timber – only virgin timber and it must be dry – below 20% moisture content.
3. Remember your neighbours and the environment – Kiln dried logs minimise smoke and maximise heat output.
4. Build a small fire to begin with and ensure a good base to the fire before adding more logs. Re-fuel with small amounts for logs to minimise smoke. Always leave air gaps between logs for the most efficient combustion and least smoke – this ensures minimal particulate emissions going up into the atmosphere.
5. To light the fires, with use the kindling and Flamers natural firelighters on top of some smaller kiln dried logs, or go one step further, cut out the kindling and use just one KindleFlamer on top of smaller kiln dried logs and away you go – really very simple.

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What wood should I use to light firepits and chimeneas?

All our kiln dried logs are fine for burning on the firepit, but we particularly recommend the Grill and Chill (thinner cut logs) if you are looking to cook food. This will ensure much better control of the fire, quicker heat and easier to management. If you want to save money, you can also consider using our great value Flaming firewood grade which is basically all the mis-shapes and smaller pieces that don’t make the 1^st grade. These are easy to use and also provide a quick, easy to manage heat. Occasionally we also stock apple wood which is great for flavoursome cooking, but its availability is very limited.

If you have really large firepits and using for big events such as weddings, we recommend that you also use either the longer and thicker 35cm logs or perhaps even our ‘chunky grade logs’ that provide a very long burn but you do need to ensure you build a really good hot base to the fire before using these.

What firewood is best for pizza ovens?

The last thing you want in your pizza oven are smoky logs, therefore, make sure you apply the same principles when choosing your logs as with firewood for woodburning stove: the wood must be dried to below 20% moisture content, so look for the ‘Ready to Burn’ logo for guaranteed firewood quality.

Additionally, try to choose logs that are of smaller diameter which will enable you to firstly get the fire going quickly, and secondly, have better control of the heat as you continue to cook the pizzas. Our Grill & Chill logs are specially selected species (normally beech logs) of a thinner cut so that when you want a little extra heat to give your pizza a bit of wood fired crunch, this is an easy task. Make sure you use only hardwoods in your pizza ovens as softwoods could leave sap residue on your oven. When lighting the fire initially, couple your logs with one of our KindleFlamers which are made of natural woodwool and will leave nothing but a roaring fire behind. 

Can you burn wood in your back garden?

Yes, you can - it is not illegal to burn wood outdoors, however, you might find that if your fire is producing a lot of smoke, your neighbours might not be best pleased and could report you to the authorities. In order to avoid any problems and disgruntled neighbours, you could invite them over for a wood fired firepit feast cooked over kiln dried logs which will produce minimal smoke! 

Campfires + safety

Campfires are a vital part of the camping experience because in our opinion, if you didn't have a campfire, did you even go camping? Before you pack up your tent and marshmallows, there are a few points to familiarise yourself with first:

Fuel: 

Make sure you use fuels with a moisture content below 20% to minimise the smoke. Gathering and using any wet logs or branches you can find may feel like an adventure but your fire will be smoky, create unnecessary pollution, and burn poorly. Not quite the best way to enjoy pristine nature we all crave so much in our technology surrounded world. 

Location:

1. Pay close attention to where you situate your fire
2. Make sure you have the permission to light the fire and use previously established firepits to avoid scaring the land
3. Ensure you are located away from trees and overhanging branches.

Wind: 

Be sensible when dealing with fire as the consequences can be detrimental. Any medium to strong wind is hazardous and known to cause issues such as wildfires, so you must avoid lighting fires in these conditions.

For more information regarding campfire safety, click here.

Outdoor cooking

Outdoor cooking differs substantially from kitchen-based cooking, the most obvious difference being the lack of an easily defined kitchen area. As a result, campers, backpackers and outdoor cooking enthusiasts have developed unique techniques and equipment to help prepare and cook food in this out-of-the-ordinary environment.

We love cooking outdoors. It not only allows us to get fresh air, but it's an opportunity to spend better quality time with friends and family without the feeling of cooking being a chore. It becomes an adventure. We also love the variety of cooking you can do outside, so we have put together an extensive Cooking On Wood Guide, which will answer questions about cooking outdoors as well as offer recipes to inspire you. Check it out here

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Outdoor burning regulations

Householders are generally allowed to have barbeques and firepits and build bonfires on their properties unless they live in an area with specific bylaws preventing fires. Even in some smoke-controlled regions, these types of outdoor fires are allowed; however, this does vary. Government guidance for outdoor burning is that you shouldn't cause a regular nuisance to your neighbours. If you ignore this guidance too often, your neighbours are within their rights to complain to the council. You cannot burn anything that generates dangerous fumes, including plastics, flammable liquids or containers but lifestyle burning like firepits and chimeneas are perfectly fine. We recommend positioning your outdoor appliance so the smoke doesn't blow into a neighbour's property.

Firepit pros vs cons

Outdoor firepits are a dream for many homeowners. The idea of having a patio in the backyard adorned with a dedicated space for a firepit is appealing for good reason. Just think of all the backyard occasions you can improve with a firepit. From Christmas eve in your pjs outdoors or summer barbeques, a firepit is a luxury garden decoration you can enjoy any season. 

Pros	Cons
Great for entertainment	Safety concerns if not treated carefully
Provides warmth on cooler evenings	Maintenance - will need to be looked after to prevent degradation
Can be cooked on

How to light my firepit?

Where do I put my firepit to burn safely?

Before you can enjoy the benefits of your firepit in all their glory, you must think about where to place it. There are a couple of considerations you must think about first.

1. Minimum of 10 feet away from your house and your neighbour’s house - this is to ensure the smoke does not become a nuisance and complies with the Government recommendations
2. Consider overhanging branches - fire can get quite tall so best not to cook under branches to avoid dangers of uncontrolled fire
3. Don't place it near wooden fences - or anything that could catch fire in that case