Fine-grained material adapted to be fired in a furnace is discharged from a preheater into a gas conduit extending from the furnace to the preheater and through which a stream of hot gases pass. The conduit is shaped to deflect the gas stream and concentrate it along one side of the conduit in the area of introduction of the material to the conduit. Below the area of introduction of material to the conduit fuel burners provide a heating zone through which the material falls. The concentration of the gas stream along one side of the conduit assures entrainment of the material in the gas stream and passage of the material again through the heating zone. Above the area of introduction of material to the conduit the latter is shaped to deconcentrate the gas stream and permit some of the material entrained therein again to fall downwardly through the heating zone, following which such material is reentrained in the gas stream.