How to Build a Firepit for a Bonfire

By eHow Parties & Entertaining Editor

Rate: (2 Ratings)

Building a proper firepit for a bonfire will not only provide a safe way to enjoy your festivities, but it will also assist in the creation of a truly memorable and spectacular fire. Find the right location for your firepit, bring a shovel and some stones (and perhaps some friends to help you dig), and build a firepit for a bonfire that will be remembered for years.

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Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

Suitable and legal location for a firepit
Wooden stakes and string
Shovel
Gravel
Cinder blocks or stones

Step1

Find a suitable location to build your firepit, one that will be free of brush, trees, phone and power lines and structures. Contact the local fire department to determine whether you have chosen a safe and legal location for your bonfire. You may have to get a permit to have the bonfire, or pay to have a fire marshal attend the event.

Step2

Mark out the perimeter of the firepit with wooden stakes and some string, or simply with the tip of your shovel. Choose a circular shape for your firepit, so that you can build your bonfire with a wigwam-style shape, which will allow for more air to increase the quality and intensity of the fire. Although the size of the pit will depend upon the size of the bonfire you are planning, you may want to consider a 12-foot diameter as an average overall size.

Step3

Dig your firepit to a depth of about 12 to 18 inches, using the shovel. This will protect the kindling and tinder that will be used to build the bonfire from the wind.

Step4

Cover the bottom of the firepit with gravel or small rocks. This will help to keep your firepit relatively dry and well-drained during wet weather.

Step5

Use larger stones or cinder blocks along the edges of the firepit to protect the surrounding area once you build your bonfire. Fill in the cracks and crevasses between the rocks with additional dirt to form a more solid perimeter around your firepit.

Step6

Clear the area around your firepit one last time before you set your bonfire. Remove all flammable materials, such as dead leaves, twigs and pine needles from the area immediately surrounding the outer stones or cinder blocks. These materials can be thrown into the firepit as tinder, which will help to get the bonfire started.