How to Make a Fire Pit on the Beach

The beach, one of summer's most popular locations, is a site for sports, lounging, families, and best of all, bonfires. Providing hours of entertainment, particularly once the sun has set, bonfires provide a special ambiance, light, and heat for roasting hot dogs and toasting marshmallows. Armed with the right tools and knowledge, you can create a fire pit perfect for a night at the beach.

Things You'll Need

• Shovel
• Cement blocks or rocks
• Wood
• Kindling

Instructions

1. Research campfire rules for the specific location you are visiting. Beaches with compromised ecology or those especially close to wooded areas may restrict fire usage. Look for posted rules, or ask a lifeguard or park attendant for the information.

2. Prepare the fire pit site. Select a flat site at least 15 feet from any flammable materials. Minimum safety standards indicate that the area be completely cleared of debris in a 10-foot radius.

3. Mark the diameter of the fire pit. Using a stick, your foot or another tool, trace out the circle that you will dig out to create the pit. A standard fire pit needs a circle approximately three feet in diameter.

4. Dig the pit. Using your shovel, remove the sand to a depth of approximately one foot. Keep the excavated sand close by, to fill in your fire pit once you have finished with your fire.

5. Set up your fire. Using cement bricks or rocks, line the diameter of the pit. Make sure the rocks or bricks touch each other, creating a solid barrier. If bricks or rocks are not available, pile up sand to create a sand bank around the fire pit. Add the kindling and wood.

References

• Trails.com: Building a Fire Pit in Sand
• Saviorfaire: Building a Fire Pit
• Video Jug: How to Build a Fire Pit