Best Wood for Outdoor Fires, Fire Pits and Pizza Ovens

What's the best wood for outdoor fires?

Defra says hardwoods are generally better as firewood, as they tend to be denser and burn for longer, while softwoods light more easily and can be good for kindling. It says to burn wood dried to 20% moisture or less, and that kiln drying can make wood ready to burn in a matter of days. Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue recommends kiln-dried wood for fire pits to reduce sparks and smoke.

Which wood for which fire?

What should I never burn outdoors?

• Plastics, paints, rubber, furniture, treated wood, kitchen units and old decking, which Defra says are likely to give off hazardous smoke.
• Painted, coated or pressure-treated wood, which Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue says can release toxic chemicals.
• Pallets, which HETAS says are likely to have been treated with wood preservatives.
• Garden waste, which Defra says is often wet and will create lots of smoke. Compost it or use the council's garden waste collection.

More in wood you should never burn.

Can I have a fire in a smoke control area?

Usually, yes. GOV.UK says you can use outdoor barbecues, chimineas, fireplaces or pizza ovens in smoke control areas, and that garden bonfires are allowed under the normal bonfire rules. The exception is an appliance with a chimney on a building, such as a stove in a summerhouse, which can burn only authorised fuel unless it's exempt.

• Your council can serve an abatement notice if smoke from any fire is a statutory nuisance, says GOV.UK, and ignoring it can lead to a fine.
• You could also be fined if smoke drifts across a road and becomes a danger to traffic.
• On public moorland in the Bradford district, Bradford Council bans barbecues, fires, fireworks and Chinese lanterns until June 2028, with a £100 fixed penalty.

How do I keep an outdoor fire safe?

• Site it well away from houses, sheds, fences, overhead cables, trees and shrubs, as Essex Fire and Rescue advises, and never on decking.
• Check the wind before you light it.
• Never use petrol or other fuels to start it, says North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue.
• Keep a bucket of water, sand or a hose nearby, and never leave it unattended.
• Make sure it's fully out before you go to bed. For a chiminea, smother it with sand: makers warn that water can damage it.

What do I do with the ash?

Only put it in a bin once it's properly cooled, says South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue. Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue reported a wheelie bin fire from hot ashes that spread to a car and two houses. Humberside Fire and Rescue suggests damping the embers and leaving them to cool overnight.

How do I keep the neighbours happy?

Defra says to think about your neighbours, as smoke can drift into their garden or home. North Yorkshire Council suggests avoiding weekends and bank holidays, and not lighting a fire when the wind is blowing towards the neighbours. Dry wood makes far less smoke than wet.