A fire pit or a fire hole can vary from a pit dug in the ground to an elaborate gas burning structure of stone, brick, and metal. The common feature of fire pits is that they are designed to contain fire and prevent it from spreading. Pre-made fire pits are the most common form of fire pits and can be purchased from a store.[1] These are commonly made of pre cast concrete or metal and/or a combination of metal table and stone. They are usually natural gas, propane ( LP ) or bio ethanol. Wood burning fire pits made of metal are also quite common but under increasing scrutiny due to fire bans and air particulate emissions. Natural gas and propane burners in these sort of pre fabricated vessels are certified under ANSI ( American ),CSA ( Canadian ) and CE ( European ) standards. Unregulated and uncertified fire pit burners are increasingly being scrutinized by regulatory authorities and being denied permits. Fire pits have recommended clearance to combustibles and require at least 5 feet above the flame and 16" circumference from the exterior perimeter of the vessel.

Essentially, to make a fire pit only a hole is required in order to safely contain a fire. This can be as simple as digging a hole in the ground, or as complex as hollowing out a brick or rock pillar. A wood burning fire pit should be located at least ten feet (three metres) away from structures for safety. Use of a fire pit in adverse conditions should be avoided, and basic fire safety precautions apply. The Dakota fire pit is an efficient, simple fire design that produces little to no smoke.[2] As depicted in the illustration, two small holes are dug in the ground: one for the firewood and the other to provide a draft of air. Small twigs are packed into the fire hole and readily combustible material is set on top and lit. The fire burns from the top downward, drawing a steady, laminar stream of fresh air from the air hole as it burns. Because the air passes freely around the fuel, near complete combustion is achieved, the result being a fire that burns strongly and brightly and with little or no seen smoke.

The Dakota fire pit is a tactical fire used by the United States military as the flame produces a low light signature, reduced smoke, and is easier to ignite under strong wind conditions. Many cultures, particularly nomadic ones would cut the turf above the fire-pit in a turf cutting ceremony, replacing the turf afterwards to hide any evidence of the fire.outdoor floor mats lowes[4] Elements of this ceremony remain in traditional youth organisations such as the Woodcraft Folk.retractable door knob for sale The remains of fire pits preserve information about past cultures. oak upvc door panelRadiocarbon dating from charcoal found in old fire pits can estimate when regions were first populated or when civilizations died out. garage door parts dickinson tx

Bones and seeds found in fire pits indicate the diet of that area. In archaeological terms fire pits are referred to as features because they can be seen and recorded as part of the site but cannot be moved without being destroyed. Outdoor fireplace at Rapidan Camp An outdoor fireplace is a place for building fires outside of the home. Similar in construction to an indoor fireplace, an outdoor fireplace is usually added to a stone, brick, or concrete patio. It often consists of a firebox and a chimney. As with indoor fireplaces, an outdoor fireplace requires cleaning and maintenance to keep it looking and working at its best. While an outdoor fireplace may not need to be cleaned as often, it will need to be cleaned regularly in order to keep it reasonably tidy and maintained and to remove ash build. While indoor fireplaces are traditionally designed for heating, an outdoor fireplace is usually used for cooking. Many are designed to double as wood-fired ovens that allow homeowners to create meals such as pizzas and casseroles.

Entire outdoor kitchens can evolve from the fireplace. An outdoor fireplace can simply be a decorative element, which allows homeowners to enjoy a crackling fire while entertaining in the backyard. Some municipalities may prohibit purely decorative fireplaces (e.g. Toronto[2]) ^ "A Guide to Outdoor Heating" Archived May 22, 2007, at the Wayback Machine. Accessed 14 January 07 ^ City of Toronto prohibition of open air burning Accessed May 26, 2007 A chimenea , also spelled chiminea (from Spanish: chimenea means chimney) , is a freestanding front-loading fireplace or oven with a bulbous body and usually a vertical smoke vent or chimney. Historically chimeneas, also spelled chimineas, have been made out of fired clay and used for heating and cooking. These traditional designs can be traced to Spain and its influence on Mexico. The first use of a traditionally designed chiminea appears around 400 years ago. The chiminea was once a daily life necessity that served a domestic purpose.

The chiminea of the past was used indoors for heating and cooking, usually by an open window or in the center of the hut or home with an opening in the roof to allow smoke to escape. With the advent of the modern home, chimineas are now used outdoors mainly for entertainment in a backyard setting. The design of a good chiminea creates a draughting action, drawing fresh air into the fire directing smoke/fumes upward away from those present. The fire burns hotter and cleaner, leaving behind only a small amount of ash. The efficient draughting of a good chiminea design means the fire will burn out completely in a short period of time, so they can be used safely on wooden decks or other locations where an open burning fire pit may cause damage. Chimineas can also be converted to use natural gas or propane. Clay was used in the production of traditional chimineas because it was readily available and very cheap to produce. Most homes that used chimineas in the past had dirt floors, so a broken clay chiminea was not a real crisis.

Today, chimineas are primarily used outdoors for entertaining. Because of the exposure to elements and occasional usage, clay chimineas no longer serve as the material of choice. The lifespan of the newer cast iron- and aluminium-design outdoor fireplaces and concern for safety have mostly replaced the traditional clay building techniques. Visually, the cast-aluminium and cast-iron chimineas look the same. They are the same thickness and cast from the same mould. Only the weight of the material is different. Compared to cast-iron chimineas, the cast-aluminium chiminea will not rust, heats the same as cast iron, is very low-maintenance, and is easier to move for a patio or entertaining rearrangement. The aluminium chiminea is readily transported and can be easily stored in the wintertime in the off season. (Chiminea storage is only recommended[] to prevent damage or theft). Both cast-iron and cast-aluminium chimineas are designed for year-around use in any climate. In Mexico, when the cooking pot or clay chimenea cracked and fell apart, the people simply scooped some more mud or river clay together and made another[].

A clay chimenea can also be repaired by the use of automotive-repair putty or high-temperature epoxy[1][2][3] to join major parts. Fresh clay can be used as a final binder after application of glue. After the clay chimenea is left to cure for 24 hours, a small fire should be set to cure the glue and clay. Most available fire woods can be used as chiminea fuels. However, there are certain types of wood that are not recommended for use as fuel. For example, pressure-treated wood may emit toxic gases that are dangerous to health. It must also be noted that the kind of fuel used for a chiminea boils down to the kind of chiminea in question. As already mentioned above, most wood can be used as fuel for chimineas, but not all kinds of wood. Also, there are other fuels that can be used efficiently for lighting up and firing a chiminea. Listed below are most of the fuels that can be used for your chiminea: Charcoal is one of the best fuels that can be used as fuel for a chiminea.

It is the ideal fuel for use in a cast-iron chiminea. However, it is not advisable to use either coal or charcoal in a Mexican clay chiminea as charcoal can become very hot and might damage the chiminea. On the other hand, cast-iron chimineas can handle any kind of fuel thrown into them. Charcoal is also the ideal fuel for cooking with a chiminea because it does not add its own taste to the meat or whatever is being cooked. Wood on the other hand will add its own particular taste to the meat. To prevent this transfer of flavour, meat should be covered or wrapped with tin foil before being cooked in a chiminea. Wood, as was mentioned above, is the most popular fuel used by chiminea owners because of its abundance. Wood can be found almost anywhere, making it the favorite to most. However, wood used in chimineas should ideally be dry wood, as this burns with little smoke. Wet or green wood makes a lot of smoke. Wood is the ideal fuel for Mexican clay chimineas. However, they must have the bottom filled with sand or lava stones before they are fueled, because clay chimineas crack open at the base if heat is applied directly.