How to Dig a Fire Pit

Sitting around a fire singing songs with friends and family is almost as much as a pastime as watching baseball and drinking cold, domestic beer. But many people do not know how to safely dig a fire pit. If you have ever wanted to dig your own fire pit and want to assure that it is safe to build a fire in, follow these easy steps.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• 15 to 30 large stones
• 10 to 12 flat stones
• Firewood
• Shovel
• Flame

1. Purchase and find the supplies. You may need to make a trip to the hardware store and the local masonry, in order to purchase all the supplies on the above list.

2. Use the shovel to dig the pit. You want to take a stick and carve the outline of your intended fire pit into the ground, and then dig down about a foot and a half removing the dirt to a separate pile as you dig.

3. Lay out the stones. Take all the stones you have bought (or found) and lay them around the exterior of the fire pit. Now that you have that done, take the flat stones and lay them in the bottom of the fire pit, assuring that there is a few inches of free air space beneath them to properly feed oxygen to the fire.

4. Enjoy a brand new and safe fire pit. Toss that firewood in the pit and add some flame to it.

Tips & Warnings

• You want to try and find stones of the relative same size that you can place around the fire pit to assure that the fire is completely contained.
• Make sure you have dug the pit at least 1½ feet deep into the ground.

[kjv4thee]

on 1/17/2008 Great article. I just did one on how to build a good campfire, just to make myself feel better until summer. ( when I get out of the apartment and back to our trailer.) That's a great picture that almost shows you how to do it by just looking at it. Good job.

[pikabun91]

on 1/16/2008 very nice! thanks :)