Like fire bowls, fire baskets are mobile fire pits that do not have to be permanently installed in the garden. This is also the reason why you generally do not need any official permission to set up a fireplace - in contrast to building a brick fireplace. Layering and lighting the wood in the fire basket is not particularly complicated as long as you know how to do it correctly.
How do you properly light a fire basket?
To properly light a fire basket, place crumpled newspaper and grill lighter (€22.00 on Amazon) in the middle, then place thin softwood branches in a pyramid shape, followed by thicker branches. Light the paper and lighter, wait for the softwood to burn and place hardwood logs on top.
Which fuel is suitable for the fire basket?
First of all: Only well-dried wood in logs, pellets or other shapes belongs in the fire basket. Waste from the garden, bulky waste, etc., on the other hand, has no place in it - burning waste is officially prohibited, with a few exceptions each year. Burning treated wood - such as wood that has been varnished or treated with tar - is also not permitted due to the toxic gases it produces. Instead, small chopped softwoods such as fir, pine and spruce should be added to the basket to start the fire, while hardwoods such as oak and beech ensure that the fire burns for a long time.
Setting up the fire basket correctly
Fire baskets may only be set up on fireproof surfaces - preferably on paved or stone floors. Setting up on the terrace is only possible to a limited extent because many terraces are made of wood and are therefore potentially flammable. However, if your terrace has a stone or tiled floor, you can place the fire basket on it. However, keep in mind that these fireplaces can cause severe soot stains that can only be removed with thorough scrubbing. Setting it up directly on the lawn is also not recommended: the heat quickly burns away the fresh greenery and literally just leaves behind scorched earth. In addition to a solid, fireproof surface, you can also place the fire basket on tamped, bare earth.
Lay the fire basket and light it
Pile up a fire basket according to the following pattern and then light it:
- Place crumpled newspaper and grill lighter (€22.00 on Amazon) in the middle of the fire basket.
- As a first layer, place thin twigs and/or softwood shavings loosely over it in a pyramid shape.
- This is followed by a second pyramid of slightly thicker softwood branches and logs.
- Light the paper and the grill lighter.
- Wait for the softwood to burn.
- Now place a few logs of hardwood loosely over it.
- Don't pack too much wood into the basket at once - otherwise the fire will suffocate.
Due to the risk of deflagration, no fire accelerants (e.g. gasoline) may be used.
Tip
Straight fire baskets can also be used as a grill by simply placing a standard grill grate over them.
