About EmberScene

A quiet fire to sit beside, in a place worth sitting in.

What it is

This is an idea I've had for a while, because I love sitting and staring at an open fire. And sometimes it's raining, so here's a fire for those days. The short version:

Pick a place, then gather tinder, kindling and wood and build a fire. The fire is not a video: it is simulated, so how it catches, builds and burns down depends on what you put in, how dry it is and how you lay it. There are twenty-four places across the four seasons, from Tasmanian rainforest to the Scottish Highlands to the Serengeti.

As the evening draws in, the birds and animals that live in each place start to call. A card names each one as you hear it.

How it is made

EmberScene runs entirely in your browser, with nothing to install. The flames and the glow are drawn live by your device's graphics chip, and the fire, wind and weather you hear are synthesised live too. The birdsong and animal calls are real recordings, shared by the people who made them (see Credits).

It works best on a recent computer, tablet or phone.

The pictures

The scenery behind each fire and the pen drawings of the animals were made with an AI image generator, then edited for this site. The photograph of the fire at the top of the home page is one I took in my backyard.

A simulation, not a guide

EmberScene is for enjoyment. It is not instructions for lighting a real fire and should not be used as one. Before you light a real one, check for fire bans and restrictions where you are, clear the ground, keep water close, and never leave a fire unattended.

Made by

I'm Pete Ottery, and I made EmberScene. You can also find me on X.

Questions, corrections or a recording you would like credited differently: hello@emberscene.net.