How to Build a Campfire Pit

Home Made Campfire Pit

Dating back to ancient times, the campfire has been a place to gather, tell stories, eat, and enjoy in the warmth. If it is allowed in your community and you want to build a fire in your own back yard or if you are going on a camping trip there are a few important steps to follow for optimum safety.

Things You'll Need

• Shovel
• Medium sized rocks

Instructions

1. Choose a safe location for your fire pit. Keep your fire pit a good distance away from any trees, brush, and tall grass. Do not build a fire pit under a tree or under overhanging tree branches. Embers from your fire will always jump from the pit and any nearby flammable brush could ignite. Check local laws if you are making a campfire in your backyard or you could face a hefty fine. Also, if you live in an area where burning is permitted, be sure there is not a burning ban in effect due to drought conditions.

2. Gather enough medium sized rocks to surround a circle approximately two to three feet in diameter. You can also use bricks to surround a fire pit.

3. With a shovel, dig a depression of approximate four to six inches throughout the entire area of your campfire pit. A depression will help keep the fire from sneaking through the spaces of your rocks and setting the surrounding ground on fire. Keep the pile of displaced dirt nearby to use for putting out your fire.

4. Place the medium sized rocks around the campfire pit. You can use smaller rocks to fill in any gaps or use a double row of rocks for extra safety.