Debate: should you leave your fire pit ashes in or clean them out every time?

I was at a campground near Flagstaff last month and left ashes in overnight, woke up to a smoldering ember that almost caught the grass. The other campers said I should always dump ashes cold, but my neighbor back home swears leaving a thin layer helps next fires catch faster. Which way do you handle it?

2 comments

2 Comments

ellis.rose1d ago

Scary how fast those embers can wake up again, I had a similar close call once and it really shook me. Leaving a thin layer might help with ignition but it's just not worth the risk to me, especially with dry grass around. Glad you caught it before it turned into something worse, that must have been a rough morning.

joseph5291d ago

Leaving a thin layer can actually protect the fire pit from rust and help start your next fire faster.