Always put the cauldron on a fireproof surface (such as a hearth, other tile surface, metal, etc.) and make sure that the only nearby objects are reasonably heat-resistant. Taper candles, if placed too close, will bend or even melt. Votives in glass holders work better. At Samhain, the coven I am in performs a ritual which involves throwing small bits of paper into the cauldron, one at a time, to burn. This works fine. Note that larger pieces, or several at once, can result in pieces of glowing ash floating around the living room, so be careful.
Always keep a bucket of water nearby in case things somehow get out of hand. A big box of baking soda also works well. Let the cauldron burn out by itself (how long this takes depends on the size of the cauldron and how much fuel you have put into it), wait till it is cool, and then soak the inside in water to loosen the grayish mass of salts that's been fused together by the fire. After letting it soak overnight it's not too hard to clean. Never make an indoor fire in a cauldron that is PAINTED--and if you choose to burn paint off any object, do it outside and don't breathe the smoke/fumes.
If it's necessary to put the cauldron out suddenly, covering it with a fireproof lid is the easiest and least-messy method, but be careful not to burn yourself while putting the lid on. One of those big leather work gloves might be good to keep around.
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