Many people worry about lighting their lawns on fire and not being able to contain the flame. With the proper precautions you can indeed put a fire pit on grass.
These precautions also depend on what kind of fire pit you are looking to add to your yard. Are you looking for a more permanent one that isn’t moveable or a temporary more portable fire pit?
Temporary and more Portable Fire Place in Yard
Obviously if you are looking to utilize a portable fire place it is most likely for a temporary basis in which you wouldn’t want to ruin your grass. If this is the case you have a few options you can use to help protect the grass so you can keep it green the following day after a fire.
Elevated Portable Fire Pit
This would be an ideal fire pit as it would keep the actual fire off the ground with air moving between the pit itself and grass. These are designed to allow fires to be built pretty much anywhere relatively safely. If you go with one of these chances are you are fine to just utilize it.
However, there are also a couple precautions you can take to ensure there is no damage to your yard. First of all, prior to lighting the fire you can simply get a garden hose and wet the grass. This will help protect it through the duration of your fire.
Another option is to pick up some brick pavers. These are fairly inexpensive and can be found all over. Prior to lighting the fire simply put a single layer down between the fire pit and the grass. Brick pavers are pretty strong and super resistant to heat.
Not only this, but if you set your fire pit on it you are also elevating the heat from the grass even more. One note though, make sure you remove the brick pavers the next day so you don’t choke the yard out and end up with a brown spot anyways.
One final option to consider protecting your yard for a fire pit is picking up a fire protection mat which are relatively inexpensive. Most fire mats have up to 600 degree Fahrenheit heat retention in which they wont crack, tear or even curl.
They are also low maintenance and easy to clean. They are also something great to consider for under your grill as protection from sparks, stains, oil, drippings…
A few other safety concerns is to remember to keep your fire pit a good 20-25 feet away from any structure which would include your porch or deck. Don’t put it directly on the grass unless it is soaked with good clearance.
When having a fire, always have either a hose ready to put into action or a fire extinguisher.
Permanent Fire Place in Yard
There are many option for placing a permanent fire place in your yard. This is definitely the safer of the two options as you can design the entire pit to maximize its safety.
One of the safest ways is to simply pour a concrete pad. Once complete you can take bricks and build a circle around the pad to help contain the fire in the designated area. If poured big enough, the concrete pad will give you a nice solid sturdy surface for your lawn chair.
Another option is to get some sand and level where you want to put your fire place. You can then lay brick down as your floor. Once complete simply build your circle on the brick floor to contain the fire.
If you have ever been camping I’m sure you have also seen a fire ring. These are also versatile. You can either dig a hole in the ground and make them flush with the ground or let them sit on top.
If you put them in the ground it is much easier to mow around and you don’t have to weed-wack to keep it clean looking. However, if you put them in the ground you will probably want to put a few rows of brick around the circumference to help keep the grass green.
If you put them on the surface I recommend getting two rings with one being smaller than the other. Center the smaller one inside the bigger one and fill it with concrete. This will help keep the heat inside and not allow the grass to catch fire.
In summary, there are many ways to safely have fires in the backyard. Just make sure you are being safe, staying away from structures, trees, decks (anything flammable) and always have a hose or fire extinguisher ready to put into action just in case something happens.
I have a bachelor’s degree in construction engineering. When I’m not constructing or remodeling X-Ray Rooms, Cardiovascular Labs, and Pharmacies…I’m at home with my wife, two daughters and a dog. Outside of family, I love grilling and barbequing on my Big Green Egg and working on projects around the house.