03. How to Maintain a Live Fire

We call charcoal and wood fires “live” fires because they are not as controlled as the flame produced by a gas grill. Getting a live fire to ignite is one thing; keeping it burning is another. Remember: The life of a fire is dependent on having enough oxygen to bond with the amount of fuel on hand. If there is only a small amount of oxygen, a fire may start, but it won’t last long, which means the art of fire tending requires a constant flow of oxygen to the flames. To create that flow, there must be air all around the fire, which is why fires are built on grates to raise them above solid ground.