Abstract: A technique for maintaining a continuous fire in a stove or fireplace for an indefinite period of time which is best accomplished by utilizing a reticulated filtering device or grid. When an ongoing fire is subsiding because the fuel is near depletion, the burning materials, the burned materials and the burnable materials contained in the fire can be separated with the grid, the burned materials passing through the apertures of the grid and the burning and not yet burned materials remaining on top of the grid for deposit at a desired location in the fire burning area. The burned materials are removed from the fire burning area and the burning and burnable materials are re-stoked to sustain and continue the fire. The grid can be substantially flat with a hanging and holding handle for convenience. Approximately 95% of the burning materials remain in the stove and do not ultimately reside in an ash can utilizing the present technique, thus providing an added safety factor.