How to Build a Brick Burn Pit

Brick burn pits are used outdoors for campsites and recreation. Often, a metal barrel is sunk in the ground and firebricks lined around the outside of the barrel. The bricks insulate the barrel and function as a safety feature. The barrel protects the firebricks from being disturbed when firewood is added to the pit. A brick fire pit is usually intended to be stationary, but since there is no mortar used, the project can be disassembled and relocated.

Safety glasses
Tape measure
Shovel
Steel barrel, 55-gallon, 24 3/4-by-34 1/2-inches
Drill
Drill bit, 1-inch
Sawzall
40 fire bricks, 9-by-4 1/2-by-2 1/2-inches

Instructions

- 1
  Dig a 12-inch-deep, 24 3/4-inch diameter hole. This will be the size of your fire pit.
- 2
  Remove the top of the barrel. If the top does not function like a lid, then use your Sawzall to cut off the top by drilling a 1-inch starter hole for the blade.
- 3
  Set your barrel in the hole. The opening should be facing upward.
- 4
  Lay bricks on their 9-by-4 1/2-inch sides around the barrel. Space them ¼ inch apart and stagger them as you lay five rows. The 4 1/2-inch center of the 9-inch length of each brick should rest over the gap between the bricks below it.

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