>>128352I like to dig a firepit as I feel it is safer. There are many different methods and you can tailor your fire to your needs and environment.
Just google firecraft, there's a ton of information out there.
I learned a lot of what I know from scouts as a kid, and recently re-learned it from Bear Grylls' book "Living Wild" (which I recommend massively, it's a wealth of outdoor information).
