Beautiful but Hot: My first fire pit was a gift. It was a beautiful round copper fire bowl that had a spark arrestor metal grate on top that was dome shaped. The first few times I used it I dutifully placed the dome over the fire and sat back in wonder and admiration. Soon, I got rid of the grate and figured I didn't need to bother with it. Having small children around meant this was probably not a good idea. Before long, I realized that, indeed, it was not a good idea. Children have a way of complicating what should be a fairly simple and relaxing situation. So, back on went the grate. Whether you use yours or not will depend on several factors, like where you are using it, what type it actually is, and who all is around when a fire is blazing away.

Respecting the Danger: Fire pits can be dangerous if not treated with respect and diligence, but I bet you already knew that. And it may seem obvious, but it is worth noting that it isn't actually the fire pit that can harm you or others. It's the heat from the fire you build in the pit that has to be respected. When you start burning a small bit of kindling, something happens inside you that you really have to resist. There's this growing desire to just keep adding wood to the fire, making it bigger and bigger. That little feeling inside is a manifestation of the natural firebug that most of us are at heart. Resist this feeling. Fire pits are meant to have manageable, small fires. They are much safer if you just remember this.

Know the Limits: With fire pits, you simply have to resist the urge to build bon fires in the pit. They are not meant to be burn barrels, recycling burners, or yard waste kilns. I can tell you from personal experience that it is not a good idea to use fire pits for anything other than casual, relatively small fires. Suffice it to say that your relationship with your neighbors will be better served if you use fire pits the way they are meant to be used. If you use them the way they are meant to be then nothing can get out of hand, and you and your friends and family will all leave wanting to gather around your fire again soon.

Fire pits are going to get more and more popular as time goes on. I will always have one, and suspect that anyone else who has one feels the same way. They are a wonderful item to have if you don't have the location or space for an in-ground fire pit. Gathering with your family and friends to make s'mores, or just to enjoy an evening together visiting and contemplating the universe while you stare into the magical fire that fire pits offer is not something you want to miss out on.

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