Metal Fire Pit Ring

A metal fire pit ring helps define a backyard fire area for evenings spent swapping stories, roasting marshmallows and winding down after chores. As you plan your outdoor fire pit, start with the space you have and how you want folks to gather around it. Check the ring’s listed dimensions, including its width and height, and leave plenty of room for seating, walking paths and the clearances required by the manufacturer and local rules. A larger fire ring needs more space around it, so measure the whole gathering area rather than just the spot where the fire will sit. If you’re planning a stone or brick surround, check whether the metal fire pit ring is intended to serve as a liner before building around it. Compare the inside and outside measurements, follow any spacing requirements and make sure the layout allows for the ventilation specified in the instructions. Setting up a metal fire pit ring takes more than picking a level patch of ground. Follow the manufacturer’s directions for the base and placement, and check local fire codes, permit requirements and burn restrictions before lighting a fire. Keep your wood-burning fire pit away from buildings, fences, overhanging branches and anything else that can catch fire; a metal ring does not stop sparks or make a combustible surface safe. For a setup approved for burning firewood, choose dry, seasoned wood and keep the fire within the size recommended for the ring. Skip trash, painted lumber and treated wood, and hold off on burning during windy weather or a burn ban. Keep a water source and suitable fire extinguisher close by, watch children and pets around the hot metal, and have an adult tend the fire the whole time. Before calling it a night, fully extinguish the fire and make sure the ashes are cold before handling or disposal.