I've noticed the shape definitely matters. My neighbor dug his pit pretty deep and gave it slightly inward-sloped sides—sort of a bowl shape—and sparks rarely escape. Plus, it's actually kinda mesmerizing to watch the embers swirl around down there...
The bowl shape definitely helps, but don't rely on it completely. I've had a similar setup for years, and while sparks rarely escape, wind gusts can still catch embers unexpectedly. I'd recommend keeping a metal mesh cover handy—doesn't have to be fancy or expensive, just something you can quickly pop over the pit if the breeze picks up. Better safe than sorry, especially if you've got dry grass or shrubs nearby...
Good call on the mesh cover—those gusts can be sneaky, right? Have you thought about maybe clearing a bit more space around the pit too, just to keep things extra safe? Sounds like you're already on the right track though.
"Have you thought about maybe clearing a bit more space around the pit too, just to keep things extra safe?"
Definitely agree with this. A good rule of thumb I've always followed is to have at least 10 feet of clear space around the fire pit, especially if you've got trees or shrubs nearby. Sparks can travel farther than you'd think, especially when the wind picks up.
Also, something else that often gets overlooked: check what's overhead. I once had a client who built a beautiful stone pit under some low-hanging branches—looked great until the leaves started drying out. A few sparks later and he had a bigger issue on his hands. So yeah, mesh covers are great, but keeping an eye on your vertical clearance can save you headaches down the road.
Sounds like you're already being thoughtful about safety though...enjoy the new setup!
Good point about overhead clearance—I learned that the hard way. Built mine near a maple tree, seemed fine until fall hit and dry leaves started dropping everywhere. Had to trim branches back quite a bit...lesson learned. Better safe than sorry.
