How to Build a Dakota Fire Pit – Turkey Creek Farms

If you have struggled with smoke around your fire pit or logs not catching fire, a Dakota Fire Pit might be the answer for you. Check out the steps below for how to build a Dakota Fire Pit that will impress your guests.

What is a Dakota Fire Pit?

First off, the background. A Dakota Fire Pit (a.k.a. Dakota Fire Hole) is essentially a regular firepit that has a tunnel of air feeding the very bottom of the firepit. Fire needs three things: air, combustion and fuel. Providing air to the bottom of the firepit ensures that the fire does not die out with adequate fuel. Most people dig two holes – one a bit larger for the fire – and connect them with a small tunnel at the bottom. For our more permanent installation, we chose to use 4″ dryer vent for our tunnel which has worked out great.

Steps to Building our version of the Dakota Fire Pit

Dig your regular fire pit to the depth and width you desire (but at least 6″ deep)
On one side of the pit dig a trench from the bottom of your pit heading out and up. This will be for the 4″ dryer vent.
Lay the dryer vent in the trench.
Cover up the length vent with dirt.
Use a rock to cover the top of the vent when not in use.

Additional Possible Upgrades

The wood around our farm is a bit punky and not seasoned. So we often have to manually blow or fan over the top of the vent for the first 30 minutes to get extra air down to the fire. We have considered getting a small battery powered or solar fan for this purpose. Maybe a computer fan or a small USB fan you might have at your desk.