A vertically fired means for the combustion of waste gases in a noise-proof manner having a vertically oriented cylindrical furnace with burner insertion into the bottom of the furnace, which is raised a selected distance above the surface grade. The inlet air opening at the bottom of the furnace is of a cross section area less than a selected fraction of the cross section area of the combustion zone. A cylindrical windshield encircling the bottom of the furnace provides limited access of air to the area below the inlet air opening at the bottom of the furnace to suitably isolate wind flow from the inlet air opening. The cross-sectional area for air flow due to limited access is at least equal to a selected fractional area of the furnace, which is the inlet air opening. Suitable isolation of air flow energies from the inlet air opening requires the limited access area to be no greater than 2.5 times the air inlet area. The inlet air opening is preferably not more than 85% of the furnace area. One or more burners are provided from suitable manifolds so that the flame resulting from the combustion of the waste gases issues preferably in the inlet air opening to the furnace. The inlet air opening area is preferably in the range of 0.2 to 0.85 of the cross section area of the furnace.