Abstract: A stove ash retaining device is disclosed for use with stoves and furnaces having an ash pit which serves as the combustion chamber also simultaneously. The retaining apparatus includes a housing having a floor, sidewalls, a top and an end to define an open end thereof adapted to admit ashes therethrough. The open end includes a cover movably positionable extending thereover to prevent the moving of light ash therefrom during disposal of ashes. The housing includes an inclined entry ramp extending downwardly therefrom adapted to extend into an ash pit over the edge of an ash door of a conventionally configured stove. The apparatus further includes a tool device including a rake for separating the ashes from the coals and a hoe for pulling the separated ash up the inclined entry ramp into the retaining chamber therefore defined by the housing.