The fire pit gets three big nights in a row over a long weekend, then sits on the pavers until the next cold snap. By then there is water in the bowl, a grey crust of old ash, and a rim that has started to bloom orange. Nothing failed. It just got left out.
That gap between owning a fire and enjoying one is where fire pit accessories earn their keep. This is a kit list, not a safety lecture: the covers, baskets, grates, ash pans and tools stocked in our fire pits range, and what each one actually solves.
The fire pit accessories that earn their place
Most fires need four things beyond the fire itself. Something to keep the weather off. Something to lift the fuel so air can move underneath. Something to catch what is left. And something long enough to move burning wood without leaning in over the heat.
Buy in that order and the money lands where the wear is. A cover that stops water sitting in a bowl all winter does more for a fire pit than a cooking attachment used twice a year.
Covers: the cheapest thing you will ever do for a fire
Rain is what kills a fire pit, not fire. Water pools in the bowl, sits underneath the ash and works on the metal from both sides at once. Anything with a flue or a firebox is worse again, because the chimney funnels rain straight down into the chamber.
The Buschbeck Cover ($139) is a full-length, heavy duty cover in UV-resistant vinyl, made to sit over a Buschbeck BBQ or outdoor fireplace between uses. Full length is the part that matters, because a top-only cover leaves the base to weather. Check one thing before ordering: if a chimney extension has been added, the cover may not fit correctly over it.
Rust-finish pits are the exception people ask about. The Firepit 72cm ($299) is a 20kg cast iron bowl finished in natural rust by design, with a drainage hole in the base so water does not pool after rain. It is built to live outside. Covering it is less about the metal than about keeping ash dry, which means less to shovel out next time.
If furniture sits beside the fire year round, size up the whole job from the outdoor furniture covers range at once.
Grates and ash pans: the parts that touch the fire
Timber burning flat on a cold base only gets air from one side. It smoulders, leaves more unburnt wood, and the ash packs into a damp layer that holds moisture against the metal for months. A grate fixes the first half of that by lifting the fuel.
The Buschbeck Fire Grate And Ash Pan ($199) pairs the grate with the pan, which is the sensible way to buy them. A grate alone improves the burn but simply relocates the cleaning job. With a pan underneath, clearing out becomes a two-minute lift instead of a shovel-and-sweep session.
Cooking hardware is the other half of this shelf, and the one genuinely optional group. A rack that sits over the bowl turns the fire into dinner once the flames drop back to coals. If your fire is purely about warmth on a July evening, skip it and put the money into the cover.
Fire baskets or a bowl: what you are accessorising
Not every backyard fire is a pit, and the accessories follow the format. A basket is an open steel cradle that burns wood above the ground with air feeding in from every side, so it lights easily and burns bright. A bowl contains fuel and ash together, holds coals longer, and gives you a flat base to cook over.
The Fire Basket Black ($62) is a steel frame with a heat-resistant coating. It is the least expensive way to give an unused corner of a backyard a reason to exist through the cold months. Set it on a hard surface clear of anything that can catch, load it and light it.
| Accessory | Best for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Full-length cover | Any fire left outside between uses | Fit is model-specific; a chimney extension changes it |
| Fire grate | Airflow underneath and a cleaner burn | On its own it does not solve the ash |
| Ash pan | Fast clean-out and a drier bowl | Ash still needs a metal bin, never the wheelie bin |
| Cooking rack | Cooking once the flames drop to coals | Dead weight if the fire is only for warmth |
| Long tools and gloves | Moving wood without reaching over heat | Indoor fireplace sets are usually too short |
Tools, gloves and the ash bucket
Three unglamorous items do most of the real work: a long poker or set of tongs, heatproof gloves, and a metal bin with a metal lid for ash. Length is the spec that matters on the tools. An open bowl is far wider than an indoor firebox, so a short indoor set has you reaching across the heat.
Ash is the part households get wrong most often. It holds heat far longer than it looks like it should, so it goes into a metal bin standing on concrete, never a plastic wheelie bin. Where kids or a dog share the space, our guide to fire pit safety around kids and pets covers the supervision and first aid behind all of this.
Buying fire pit accessories in Australia
Fit is the first filter. Covers, grates and inserts are made for specific models, so measure the bowl diameter and the assembled height with the trivet in place before ordering. A cover slightly too small will not go on; one far too big flaps in wind and holds water in the sag.
Climate is the second. Salt air along the coast, from the Sunshine Coast down to the Eyre Peninsula, finds unprotected steel eventually, so a cover moves from optional to essential. Through Victoria and Tasmania it is wet winters instead, and a cover plus a dry ash pan handles both.
Then there is when you can use the fire at all. On a declared total fire ban day you cannot light a solid fuel fire in the open, and a backyard fire pit counts. Rules on solid fuel fires vary by state and council, and strata schemes often ban open flame outright. Check the day's status with your state fire authority, such as the NSW Rural Fire Service, the Country Fire Authority or the Country Fire Service in South Australia.
Fire pit accessories — frequently asked questions
Which fire pit accessories should I buy first?
A cover first, then a grate and ash pan together. Weather protection preserves the pit you have already paid for, and the grate and pan improve the burn while cutting the clean-up. Cooking attachments can wait until you know how you use the fire.
Do I need a cover if my fire pit has a rust finish?
Not for the sake of the finish, but it still helps. A natural rust finish like the one on the Firepit 72cm is low maintenance by design, and the bowl has a drainage hole. A cover is mainly about keeping ash dry.
What is the difference between a fire basket and a fire pit?
A basket is an open cradle that burns wood above the ground with air feeding through the sides, while a pit is a solid bowl containing both fuel and ash. Baskets light quickly and burn bright; bowls hold coals longer and suit cooking better.
Can I use indoor fireplace tools on an outdoor fire pit?
Usually not, because they are too short. An open bowl is much wider than a firebox opening, so indoor tongs and pokers leave your forearm inside the heat. Look for long-handled outdoor tools and heatproof gloves.
Shop the range
Work through the fire pits and accessories range if you are building the kit from scratch, or the heating and fire collection for warmth without ash to clear. If you do cook over coals, the Buschbeck Heavy Duty Grill Rack ($99) is the attachment worth adding early. We deliver Australia-wide, delivery is free over $100, and most orders are dispatched in 3-10 business days.
