Las Vegas Sun

March 29, 2024

Baby, light that fire

A cozy gathering with friends, a break on the back patio with a book or an evening looking at the stars with your children can be enhanced by the ambience of a small fire’s flickering flames

Here’s a guide on how to add a little heat to your daily living and to keep the kids happy with s’mores.

Did You Know?

Outdoor fire pits and fireplaces are hugely popular, according to a 2013 survey of residential landscape trends conducted by the American Society of Landscape Architects.

Some pits are fueled by natural gas or propane.

Others can burn wood, but use common sense: avoid burning on windy days because of blowing embers, and if you envelop your neighbor with smoke, you may be subject to a nuisance complaint or find the fire department rolling up to your house, thanks to a worried neighbor.

Burning wood also contributes to air pollution, including particulates and carbon dioxide. No matter the fuel, fire pits should be 15 feet from the nearest structure, for safety reasons. Fire pits range in price, style and sophistication.

Types of Fire Pits

The smallest, simplest and cheapest fire pits, also called fire bowls, can be moved around the patio or yard. They can be purchased at your local hardware store and are fueled by one-pound propane canisters.

COST: $60 to $150

More Style

If you’re willing to spend more money for a larger fire pit, or want to make a décor statement, you may be drawn to stone designs or freestanding clay chimeneas that offer Southwestern charm. Chimeneas generate less smoke, and flames won’t be bandied about by the wind because the fire is more enclosed. The downside: only one side of the chimenea provides heat.

COST: $150 to $3,000

Build Your Own

Your inner handyman may be drawn to a hardware store for a kit that provides the necessary components for a larger backyard fireplace. Your effort will result in a permanent structure of bricks or stones, great for enclosing a fire but losing points for portability. If you are a real DIYer, consider researching blogs and YouTube to build a fire pit from scratch.

COST: About $200

Other tips

Hire a landscaper

Fire pits and fireplaces can also function as stunning statement pieces for a backyard. For this, you may want to enlist the help of a landscaper. Hiring someone to construct a fire pit will allow you to make sure the mood is just right and add special touches, such as remote control flames. It will also cost thousands of dollars.

Consider fuel

Propane or natural gas — be sure you know which one your device uses — will heat quickly and generate little mess. If you go the wood-burning route, your guests will enjoy the crackling and aroma of smoke. Another option: Artificial logs such as Duraflame, which are a blend of sawdust and petroleum wax and are more environmentally friendly than burning wood. Burning trash is prohibited in all municipalities, except in cases where special permission is given by the proper authority within that municipality.

Burning wood indoors

Wood-burning fireplaces are banned in most of Clark County except in homes constructed before such fires were banned. Wood burning indoors is allowed for areas above 4,000 feet, such as Mount Charleston.

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