This is extract from Firepit Barbecue by Ross Dobson explains what all the fuss is about.In the most basic sense, a firepit is just that: a pit of fire.What started as a simple hole in the ground, in which burning wood supplied heat for warmth and cooking, has become over the centuries more practical and safe through design. What many of us think of as a firepit is simply a vessel that burns wood, over which a suspended grill or hotplate can be fitted to cook food.I’ve seen the most basic of firepits – nothing more than a recycled metal drum with holes punched in the side to supply air flow and enable the wood to burn (remember: a fire needs oxygen). A grill, such as an old cooking grill from an oven, is placed on top of the metal drum. Once the smoke and flames have subsided, it is ready to cook food over the heat emitted from the hot charcoal.It is the heat from the charcoal that is required for cooking. You will notice that when wood is burning, it’s almost as if it’s alive: it hiss...