So today I grabbed that big Grand Prix fire pit I bought last summer, you know the popular metal bowl style? Figured I’d finally test how safe this thing really is. Been seeing questions online about sparks and heat, so yeah, let’s do this right.
First step, location. Dragged the whole setup way out back, far from the deck, shed, and those overhanging maple branches. Seriously, give yourself like 15 feet of clear space all around. No shortcuts here, I measured it with my actual footsteps. Put it on the stone patio section, nothing flammable underneath. Gravel or dirt works too.
Then, prep stuff. Dug out my trusty old garden hose, made sure it reached all the way to the pit. No kinks! Also found my fire extinguisher – seriously dusted it off, checked the pressure gauge was in the green. Put it right next to me on a table. Felt silly but smart. Got a big metal bucket too, filled it with water from the hose. Backup plan, you know?
Time for fuel. Used only dry, seasoned hardwood chunks. None of that leftover pine fence wood or junk mail! Started small, just a couple of kindling pieces with a fire starter cube. Lit it carefully with a long BBQ lighter. Kept it small, watching how the flames behaved around those metal walls.
The Actual Burn Test
Slowly added more wood pieces, one at a time. Wanted to see:
- Does it spit crazy sparks? (Yeah, actually it did sometimes with certain woods!)
- How hot do the sides get? (Touched it lightly… bad idea. Used an infrared thermometer later – sides hit like 400°F!)
- Does the base get hot under the pit? (The stones stayed cool, thankfully).
Learned quick… Wind picked up a bit. Saw sparks fly farther than I liked, almost towards the dry grass edge. Immediately hosed down that grassy area near the sparks. Felt the heat radiating way more than expected when standing close. Moved my chair back another couple feet.
The Big Surprise: When I finally let the fire die down way later, those embers held heat forever. Dumped water from my bucket on them – whoosh, crazy steam! Stirred the ashes with a long poker, kept adding water until no hissing at all. Patted the wet ash mound… stone cold. Took way longer than just kicking dirt on it!
Verdict & Key Safety Stuff I Figured Out
Is the Grand Prix fire pit itself fire safe? Well, it’s metal, it works. But the real safety is totally on YOU. Here’s my non-negotiable list now:
- Location, Location, Location: Wide open, non-flammable base.
- Extinguisher MUST be ready: Not in the garage. Right there. And water backup (bucket/hose).
- Fuel Quality: Only proper dry firewood or logs. No trash, cardboard, construction scraps. Period.
- Wind Watch: Even a breeze changes everything. Be ready to douse surrounding areas or put it out.
- Space Cushion: Sit WAY back. That heat sneaks up on you. Keep kids/pets even further.
- Spark Patrol: Watch where they fly. Wet down any nearby dry stuff.
- Death to Embers: Soak, Stir, Soak again. Seriously. They last hours. Touch test the ashes before leaving!
Made it through, pit’s fine. Learned heaps. Mostly, that fire needs way more respect than just plopping down a pit and lighting up. Be smart out there!
