No fire without smoke: is it time to ditch burning wood in the home? Wood-burning stoves are currently very fashionable, but are environmentally very dubious

There is no doubt that the advent of fire changed the lives of early humans: it allowed us to cook and preserve food, thus needing to hunt less frequently; it allowed us to stay warm and active during the night; it protected us from wild animals, and allowed us to make tools (or, knowing humanity, weapons). However, with the advent of clean electricity from wind, solar, and water, is it time to relegate “burning stuff” to the olden days?