Pinpoints of light dotting the dark sky. Friends gathered in a circle, sipping wine and chatting convivially. The kiddies toasting marshmallows. How better to usher in autumn’s chilly weather than by chilling outdoors around a blazing fire.
Not to mention, creating the ambience of a campfire with a fire pit is one of the hottest trends in back yard recreation.
Jim Jarvis of Weatherford, Texas, owner of an online fire-pit accessories company, says the trend was sparked by the clay chimeneas that started showing up in Mexican import stores a few years back. Next came cast-iron fire pits from China. Then the upscale garden-and-home-accessories companies started selling sleek copper versions. Today, built-in stone pits are the trendiest variation.
Alex Bandon, multimedia editor of “This Old House” magazine, helped show readers how to build a fire pit from cast-concrete stone for about $500 in the September issue of the magazine. “People are turning their yards into outdoor rooms, and a fire pit is better than a barbecue because it’s generally circular, which makes it very social. You can build a whole party around it,” says Bandon.
Just be careful about safety issues and be aware of local ordinances. Most cities require a screen to prevent embers from flying out. Capt. Tom Lewis of the Ft. Worth Fire Department’s fire prevention bureau says open fires are illegal within the city (with fines of up to $2,000), but ones with a covered grate are acceptable.
Locate your fire pit away from the house and away from tree limbs.
For directions for the “This Old House” do-it-yourself fire pit, go to www.thisoldhouse.com , click on “magazine,” then the September issue, then click on “homeowner’s handbook.”
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And once you have the pit, you’ll need some accessories. Here are few we like:
* For a really fragrant fire, burn pinion wood, grown in New Mexico and available at www.dancingfire.com for $39.99 a bag.
* Wax-coated acorns make fun fire starters, available at gift and home-accessories stores.
* Marshmallow Tree, cooks 10 marshmallows at once, $10 at www.wisementrading.com
* Custom-made spark screens, www.dancing fire.com