It’s nearly summer in Ireland, which means we finally have some dry days ahead……maybe even some warm ones! It’s finally time to extend your summer evenings outside and enjoy the warm glow of a WillowWarm fire.

Many people across Ireland are already using and loving our carbon-neutral briquettes in their stoves and fireplaces, but did you know that WillowWarm carbon-neutral briquettes also work great in outdoor fire pits and BBQs?

Why WillowWarm Briquettes?

WillowWarm carbon-neutral briquettes are the perfect fuel source to extend your summer evenings as they burn cleaner, contain no artificial chemicals, and leave behind little ash content.

Because they are made from 100% willow and biomass, there are no harmful chemicals released from your fire pit or onto your food when they burn in your BBQ.

They have a long burn time and produce a strong heat for up to 3 hours to keep you toasty long after the sun sets.

How to use WillowWarm Briquettes in your fire pit

1. Prepare Your Fire Pit

Before lighting your fire, make sure your setup is safe.

• Place your fire pit on a flat, non‑flammable surface, such as stone, brick, or gravel.
• Keep it at least 10 feet away from your house, sheds, trees, or any overhanging flammable materials or decorations.

Remember: many fire pits conduct heat and can become extremely hot on the outside, leaving space reduces the chance of accidental burns.

2. Build the Fire

Build your fire as you normally would:

• Use a small amount of kindling and a firelighter to create your starter flame.
• Add no more than two to three WillowWarm briquettes at first. Because they are dense and heavy, adding too many too soon can choke the fire and reduce airflow.

WillowWarm briquettes are designed to burn slowly and steadily, producing a high heat for a consistent amount of time.

3. Maintain the Fire

Once your fire is established:

• Allow each briquette to burn through naturally. A single briquette can burn for well over an hour, with heat output lasting up to three hours.
• When you feel the heat beginning to ease, add one or two more briquettes as needed. Everyone’s comfort level is different, so adjust based on how warm you like it.
• Place new briquettes horizontally on the glowing bed for the best burn and most efficient airflow.
• Avoid overloading the fire pit; too many briquettes at once can reduce oxygen flow and weaken the flame.

4. Safety

• Never leave your fire pit unattended.
• Store your WillowWarm briquettes somewhere completely dry; they must be kept bone dry for the best performance.
• When finished, fully extinguish the fire with water and stir the ashes to ensure no embers remain.

For more information on how you can use WillowWarm briquettes in your BBQ, check out our blog “Hosting a Zero-Waste BBQ”.

Key Tips for a Great Burn

• Keep it Dry: Always use fully dry briquettes.
• Less is More: WillowWarm briquettes are more efficient than traditional wood; you’ll need fewer to maintain a consistent, powerful heat.
• Minimal Ash: WillowWarm briquettes produce less than 3% ash, making cleanup quick and easy.

For ideas on how to reuse your ash after the fire, check out our blog “How to Repurpose Fire Ash” for creative and practical uses.

If you’d like to enjoy our carbon‑neutral briquettes outdoors in your fire pit to extend your summer evenings, you can find WillowWarm in over 1,500 stockists across Ireland.

And remember, WillowWarm briquettes aren’t just for winter.