Apparatus for simulating a campfire includes a fire pan, a diffuser element
in the pan interior and a gas injector extending into the interior. The gas injector
has an outlet that introduces vaporized fuel so that the diffuser element disperses
the vaporized fuel about the pan interior. Non-flammable particulate material may
be provided at a depth sufficient to cover the outlet. A lid may be secured to
the pan, for example, by the diffuser element. The fire pan may have a lower chamber
portion and an upper pan portion with the outlet terminating in the lower chamber
portion. The diffuser element may be centrally located in the pan. The method provides
such a fire pan and directs the flow of gas toward the diffuser so that the gas
is diffused upwardly to be ignited on the surface of the particulate material.
