An improved wood burning apparatus and method having increased secondary combustion are disclosed. Unburned combustibles from a primary combustion chamber are combined with an oxygen containing gas, such as air, and thereafter pass through a selectively operated electrical heating element which promotes secondary combustion. The combustion products from the secondary combustion are monitored so that if secondary combustion is not sufficiently complete, the heating element is activated to promote increased secondary combustion thereby providing an increased overall efficiency for the heating apparatus.