CAMPFIRE RESTRICTIONSIt has become a sad reality. California (and the west coast) has been hit with extreme drought and prolonged campfire restrictions due to the number of unfortunate, devastating wildfires that had been stretching the State’s firefighting resources thin. Our hearts go out to everyone affected! Last month saw something rightfully drastic that shocked our outdoor community: the US Forest Service shut down all CA USFS land for hiking, camping, and off-roading in its effort to prevent more wildfires!As outdoor enthusiasts, the realization that fires and resulting restrictions will not go away anytime soon had me finally look into propane fire pits as safer alternatives to wood/charcoal campfires. They do not produce runaway ember (that could spark a fire elsewhere) and do not cause damage to the ground underneath. That also resulted in learning about refillable propane tanks as cheaper and more environmentally-friendly fuel than those green 16oz/1lb Coleman Propane Canisters.Camping is just not the same without a campfire and most places in California do not restrict propane stoves or propane fire pits during high fire season. You should always check local fire restrictions, however, although most often you only need to sign up for a free campfire permit.In this article, I will go over the Outland Living Firebowl Propane Fire Pit, the various models, and why I now use a refillable propane tank instead of the green, 16oz canisters.IN A NUTSHELLThe Outland Living Firebowl is one of the most popular propane fire pits recommended by outdoor enthusiasts for camping, boondocking/overlanding, and backyard gatherings. It is portable, produces pleasant, dancing flames, and outputs sufficient heat to warm up a group of people. It also does unofficial double duty for cooking! I specifically chose the 19″ Firebowl Deluxe 893 model that includes a cover and carry strap for safety and easier transport. It struck me as the version with the best overall value, size, and weight suitable for a group of up to 10 people. Indeed, the first time we used it in our backyard for a California summer evening get-together produced quite an unbearable amount of heat at its highest setting!Safety was my biggest concern in finding a propane fire pit, followed by portability, reliability, and price. The Firebowl 893 Deluxe is certified by the CSA and looks to be sturdy and very well-made. Setup and usage was simple: Connect the pre-attached 10′ hose to a distant, secured, 20lb propane tank, check for gas leak, slowly and gradually light up the burner, and allow the included 4.4 lbs of porous lava rocks to heat up for 5+ mins for a vibrant flame. The heat intensity can then be adjusted through a valve knob — the lower the flames, the longer the fire lasts. A 5 pound propane tank could last about 2-4 hours, whereas a 20 lb would be usable for 7-12 hours according to anecdotes from users across the Internet. Various factors would affect the usage time, including heat setting, weather conditions, and ambient temperature. Do note that Outland Living will ONLY support the use of 20 lb propane tanks as that is what their products were certified for. My research found that 5-20 lb (1-5 gal) tanks are safe to connect to. I also use these cylinders to power the Mr. Heater Buddy indoor heater.What I particularly like about the Firebowl is how quickly a fire could be started/stopped on demand (even when the surrounding campsite is wet), how it burns without any smoke, and that the heat intensity could be controlled — a valuable feature for predictable cooking. Wood and coal fires cannot easily claim those properties. Most importantly, propane fire pits can be used at most places during a campfire ban because they do not produce ember nor damage underneath vegetation.Propane fire pits, of course, also have their disadvantages. They usually are not certified for use other than what they were developed for. That means that cooking, although possible, is discouraged because fire pits like these are designed to produce yellow flames. Those result in soot, a black substance consisting mostly of carbon, that can cause breathing issues, heart disease, and even cancer. Furthermore, grease or food particles can clog the burner and give the fire pit an unsightly appearance — it certainly took some time to clean after a test of some delicious steak grilled in butter, rosemary, and garlic inside a cast iron pan. If you want the taste of charcoal or hear the fire crackling, propane is not able to provide that. Outland Living, in fact, skirts around the question of cooking and using third party products (like glass or non-lava rocks) with a generic statement that its products are not CSA-certified with other products or for use other than a fire pit. Many consumers, myself included, do not see a problem roasting marshmallows/hot dogs or boiling water over a sturdy cooktop grate, but be sure to not let any drip or fall into the pit. That would make for some messy cleanup or clogged burner holes!Outland Living has a natural gas conversion kit available for use at home, and the Deluxe version of the Firebowl comes with a carry strap and lid. The latter helps keep children and animals away from the cooling lava rocks while also holding said rocks in place during transport.Camping is just not the same without a campfire, right? With fire restrictions increasingly more common in California and with our family also doing more dispersed camping, a portable, safe fire pit has become one of our favorite camping accessories to bring along. The Outland Living Firebowl 893 Deluxe fits perfectly in our Yakima SkyBox roof carrier and with that, we now have access to warmth, a natural TV show of flames, and cooking as needed. When there is no smoke, there also is no smelling like smoke! I cannot wait to use it during colder weather in a few months!IGNITION AND LOW FLAMESPropane tanks and appliances have a built-in excess flow safety device. The Firebowl’s is located in the hose and those not aware may think their fire pit or propane tank is defective when it actually is a safety feature. If pressure builds up too fast in the hose, the hose regulator will limit the flow, keeping the flame size low and not responsive to the gas knob.TROUBLESHOOTING A LOW FLAME- Turn off the gas at both the propane tank and fire pit ends- Open the fire pit gas valve to release pressure and close again- Disconnect and reconnect the hose from the propane tank- VERY SLOWLY open the propane tank’s valve. Going too fast will release too much pressure and trigger the hose safety device again- Perform a leak test around the valve and hose-- This should be done at least once a year-- One simple way is to mix soap and water and spray onto the valve and hose-- If you see bubbles forming or smell propane, you may have discovered the leak and should shut down the gas immediately--- Wait an hour for the remaining gas to dissipate before disconnecting the hose. Take the part in for inspection- If there is no leak, proceed to igniting the fire pitIGNITING THE FIRE PIT- Manufacturer recommends 80″ (7′) clearance above and 36″ (3′) surrounding the fire pit-- No combustible surface should be underneath- Ensure the propane tank is at least 36″ (or 3′) away from the fire pit – THIS IS IMPORTANT!-- If possible, put the tank into the included stabilizer ring to keep it from tipping over- With the propane tank’s gas valve already SLOWLY opened, light up a match or lighter slightly above the fire pit- VERY slowly open the gas valve on the fire pit until the fire ignitesBURN TIME CALCULATIONBTU (British Thermal Unit) measures the amount of heat (energy) it takes to raise 1lb of water a single 1F. It is commonly used with heaters and air conditioners. There is 91,500 BTU of energy in 1 gallon (4.24 lbs) of liquid propane.To calculate how many hours are available for the fire pit set on the “High” setting with 1 gallon of liquid propane:Calc: 91,500 BTU/hr / Appliance BTU/hr rating = Hours available per gallonFirebowl burns at 58,000 BTU/hr on “High” setting. It can last an approximate minimum of:- 1 gal (4.24 lbs) propane: 1.58 hours = 91,500 / 58,000-- 5 gal (21.2 lbs) propane: 7.88 hours = 91,500 / 58,000 x 5- 1 lb propane: 0.37 hours = 91,500 / 58,000 / 4.24-- 5 lb propane: 1.86 hours = 91,500 / 58,000 / 4.24 x 5-- 20 lb propane: 7.44 hours = 91,500 / 58,000 / 4.24 x 20FINAL THOUGHTSMy children and fellow camping friends were ecstatic when they saw the Outland Living Firebowl turned on at camp. It turned their disappointment of not being able to have a campfire to one of joy and cheers, starting the evening off with a warm, cozy mood and intriguing storytelling. Sometimes, some neighbors walked by to remind us that a campfire ban was in effect until we shared we were running off propane, whereas some would come over to ask which fire pit we had or recommended.I appreciated the ability to quickly turn on the fire in the chilly, early morning while the little ones slowly woke up and sat in their chairs with instant ramen or hot chocolate in their hands. Furthermore, refillable propane tanks are not only less expensive and more environmentally friendly than the 16oz/1lb green propane cylinders, they can also power our Mr. Heater Buddy indoor heater for longer periods of time. A 5 lb propane tank allows about 2-4 hours of use, perfect for a long weekend getaway.If I had not yet made it clear, a propane fire pit has become an essential part of our camping gear now, especially when campfires are not allowed or when I don’t want any smoke to irritate the eyes of the youngest of the kids. It also has enabled us to have a campfire (without smelling like smoke afterwards) when boondocking/overlanding on dispersed land where new fire rings are not permitted. All in all, could not be happier with our choice. The Firebowl 893 Deluxe comes highly recommended.