Fire pits are designed fixtures meant to contain a controlled fire and prevent it from spreading. Often used to add warmth and ambiance in the backyard of a home or at a restaurant, fire pits make for pleasant gathering spaces for multiple people to sit around. Fire pits vary greatly from rudimentary pits dug into the earth, to ornamental gas burning structures made of stone, brick, and metal. The most common fire pits are pre-made and can be purchased in stores with a range of fuel variations from natural gas to propane, or bio ethanol. Fire pits have great archeological significance, as their remains often preserve information pertaining to past cultures.
To start a fire pit, gather the ignitable materials (tinder and kindling) as well as the fuel needed for the fire. These materials could be newspapers, straw, or thin sticks. The fuel refers to the larger, old pieces of firewood. When placing all of the mentioned into the fire pit, lay the tinder first in the center. Following that are a handful of pieces of kindling (sticks) in the shape of a tent. Lastly, break apart pieces of firewood to add after the sticks have already been burning.
To make an outdoor fire pit, refer to building codes and regulations first as safety in containing the fire is of the utmost importance. The pit should be lined with a steel ring and have layers of blocks surrounding (found at local home store). The base of the wall should be buried securely into the ground but overall, the height of the wall should remain relatively low. The concrete blocks should be flat and glued together with a masonry adhesive.
Before disposing, it is important to note that the ashes from a fire pit can be used for other purposes. This includes: hiding pavement stains, enhancing the nutrients of compost, repelling pests in garden beds, and polishing silver (mixed with water).
