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Small Cabin Forum / General Forum / Building a safe FirePit
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spicyacres
Member
# Posted: 21 Feb 2012 20:25
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My property has a large open hayfield (that's cut regularly), and the summer's can be dry.

I'd like to setup a rudimentary camping area this summer, with a travel trailer and firepit, while I'm constructing my cabin, I mean my shed.

Any firepit tips? I don't have many rocks on the property, might have to resort to using cinder blocks. Or would one of those store-bought firepit bbq's be safer?

Thanks for everyone's help.

PA_Bound
Member
# Posted: 21 Feb 2012 21:06
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As an ex-fire fighter, when you put the words 'fire' and 'dry hayfield' in the same sentence I get very worried. But it's not the enclosure I worry about, as it likely won't be the fire spreading across the ground that would light it off. It'll be the odd spark or ember floating gently through the air that just happens to land in the dry hay before it burns out. And no enclosure that I know of can completely remove that threat.

If it were me and I was in your situation I would get a decent, good qualtiy enclosure of your choice and, more importantly, install it well away from the field and don't use it at all when the hay is dry. I would also add I would keep a hose or bucket of water close at all times... just in case. Or, even better, have you ever considered a gas fire? No sparks or embers with those... just sayin'.

spicyacres
Member
# Posted: 21 Feb 2012 21:39
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Thanks for the advice. I posted my question because I'm aware the potential safety hazard and I want to err on the side of caution. I'll probably just stick to my propane grill.

MtnDon
Member
# Posted: 21 Feb 2012 22:07
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Someplace here there was a similar discussion. I agree with PA in many ways. The fire danger stems from the wind spreading embers that will ignite someplace else. True there is some danger from underground spreading of a fire along roots. I've seen enough of that over the decades.

Which is why we use an enclosed fire with chimney, etc. It's in the other thread.

toyota_mdt_tech
Member
# Posted: 22 Feb 2012 19:11 - Edited by: toyota_mdt_tech
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A large round chunk of well casing in a 36" or however big you wanted your pit to be. Set it down into the ground, dig it out, have the walls extend above the ground be quite a bit.

Just
Member
# Posted: 22 Feb 2012 19:52
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A used washing machine tub or a used broken 22in truck rim both work well . I found lids for both soon after I got them ,,the lids make the fire pit much safer and keep the pit dry for next time.

sparky1
Member
# Posted: 23 Feb 2012 12:03
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I Made a portable Fire Ring..
Lowes has Metal Basement Window Guards, I bought (3) Bent the tabs to Creat a circle--
-Bought (6) 5/16" bolts 1" and (12) Washers and (6) 5/16" wing nuts.
now I have a fire Ring any where //camping or Leave it at one place---I keep a bucket, of sand or dirt.near by.
sparky1 in s.va.

Stophel
Member
# Posted: 23 Feb 2012 13:37
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Check with your local fire department. Around here we will have "burn bans" when it is dry and you can't burn outside between 6 in the morning and 6 in the evening, or something like that.

Bevis
Member
# Posted: 23 Feb 2012 18:01
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Quoting: PA_Bound
when you put the words 'fire' and 'dry hayfield' in the same sentence I get very worried.

Being a FF/Paramedic, I agree with PA... We are in the midst of brush fire season here. At times there is a "No Burning Ban" in affect, will have to check with your local agency.
I've seen old washing machine tubs used with a lid over them, less to no embers with them. Just be safe.

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