The short version: A FireCan gives you a campfire-style flame from propane: no wood to haul, no smoke and no sparks, raised off the ground and shut off with a knob. Ignik pitches it as the alternative to wood fires during summer burn bans. Whether it is allowed during a particular ban depends on the wording of that ban, so read the current order before you light it. The model we stock is the original FireCan, Ignik's simple steel workhorse. Ignik also makes a FireCan Deluxe with a grill and a FireCan Elite, its hottest and lightest model and the only CSA-certified one. Neither is available from us right now, but both are compared below.
Propane fire pit vs wood campfire
| Wood campfire | Ignik FireCan | |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel | Firewood you buy, haul or gather | Propane from a 20 lb tank or smaller refillable tank (20 lb maximum, per the manuals) |
| Smoke and sparks | Yes | Ignik: "No Smoke, No Wood, No Spark" |
| Off switch | Drown and stir | Close the knob, then the tank valve. Ignik says the flame starts to die down within a minute; let it cool before packing (10 minutes or more, per the manuals) |
| On the ground | Fire ring or scar | Raised on folding legs |
| Cooking | Yes | Not on the original; Ignik's FireCan Deluxe adds a grill mode |
| Burn bans | Usually the first thing banned | Depends on the order's wording (see below) |
The trade-off is fuel. A FireCan runs on propane, not something you pick up at camp, so plan a tank around how long you sit by the fire. Ignik puts a full 5 lb Gas Growler at about 2.5 to 3 hours on the FireCan's high setting. Our Gas Growler sizing and refill guide works the same numbers for every tank size.
Burn bans: what to check
Ignik markets the FireCan as forest safe and as a way to enjoy a fire while following burn-ban rules. Fire restrictions are written by each forest, county or park, though, and the wording decides what's allowed. Many orders treat a propane appliance with a shut-off valve differently from a wood fire, but not always in a way that covers a fire pit. The Inyo National Forest's 2026 Stage 1 order is an example. It bans fires, including stove fires, outside the developed recreation sites it lists, and campfires are still allowed inside those sites. Outside them, the only exemption is for California Campfire Permit holders using a "portable stove or lantern" fueled solely by pressurized LPG with a fuel shut-off valve. That doesn't cover a propane fire pit, so under that order a FireCan is limited to the developed sites the order lists.
- Read the current order for where you are camping, not last year's.
- Look for words like "stove", "lantern", "device" and "fire pit", and for an on/off or shut-off valve requirement. Some orders also require a cleared area around the appliance.
- If the order is unclear, ask the ranger district or campground host before you light up.
- Check again whenever the restriction level changes, because the exemptions can change with it.
FireCan, Deluxe and Elite compared
We stock the original FireCan. The Deluxe and Elite are part of Ignik's range, and neither is available from us right now. Here is how Ignik describes the three:
| FireCan | FireCan Deluxe | FireCan Elite | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Body / lid | Powder-coated steel / enamel-painted steel | Stainless steel / stainless steel | Stainless steel / anodized aluminum |
| Heat output (Ignik) | 37,000 BTU (listing) / 38,000 BTU (spec chart) | 38,000 BTU | Over 50,000 BTU/hr |
| Burners | Fire pit | Two: fire pit mode and grill mode | Fire pit |
| Flame control | Adjustable regulator on the 5 ft hose | Flame/temperature knob, 5 ft quick-release hose | Controls and quick-release built into the can, 5 psi regulator |
| Certification | Not marked CSA certified on Ignik's comparison chart | Not marked CSA certified on Ignik's comparison chart | CSA certified (ANSI Z21.97 / CSA 2.41, outdoor decorative gas appliances) |
| Extras in the box | Hose with regulator | Grill insert, grease tray, hose | Propane cylinder stand |
| Clearance to anything (manual) | 36 in sides and back, 72 in above | 36 in sides and back, 72 in above | 48 in sides and back, 72 in above |
| Tank distance from unit (manual) | 36 in minimum | 36 in minimum | 48 in minimum |
Ignik describes the Elite as 25% lighter, and it is the lightest of the three on every Ignik spec sheet we read (9.2 to 10.1 lb, against roughly 11 to 14 lb for the other two). All three share the same 12 x 6 x 7.5 in footprint on Ignik's spec chart.
The original FireCan
A fire to sit around and nothing more. Ignik says the original's flame is calibrated for heat and isn't really suitable for cooking. Its mesh sides let more heat and light reach the group. Ignik doesn't sell a grill insert for it.
How the Deluxe and Elite differ
The Deluxe is one can that cooks dinner, then becomes the campfire. It has two separate inlet stems, one for each mode, and the grill insert has to come out before you light fire pit mode. The Elite gives the most heat for the least weight and carries CSA certification, but it needs more room: 48 in of side clearance instead of 36 in.
Using a FireCan safely at an RV site
Every FireCan manual starts with the same carbon monoxide warning. Outdoor use only. Never use it inside a camper, tent, car or home, or any enclosed space. Beyond that:
- Not under the awning. The manuals say do not use it under an overhead structure and to keep 72 in clear above it. Set it up in the open, not beneath the RV awning or a canopy.
- Keep it propane only. Never add wood, charcoal or any solid fuel.
- Stabilize the tank. The manuals call for a tank no larger than 20 lb, used with an approved cylinder stabilizer, and placed to the side or rear with the hose clear of the housing.
- Leak test at setup. Brush the connections with a 50/50 dish soap and water mix. Bubbles mean a leak. Never test with a flame.
- Low flame? Ignik says the excess-flow safety device in the regulator has probably tripped. Close the tank and the knob, then start over.
- Cool down. The FireCan manual says to let it cool at least 10 minutes before moving it or removing the hose. It gets very hot.
Rocks, cases and the Skullet
Ignik highly recommends a layer of stone over the burners. FireCan Rocks are 5 lb of natural tumbled lava rock. Moon Rocks are 1 lb of blown-ceramic stone. Either one breaks up the flame so it looks more like a wood fire. Heat new rock gradually and at low levels, because rock that holds moisture can crack or pop. We also list the FireCan + Rocks bundle, and the FireCan Carry Case, which fits every FireCan and has a heat-resistant liner.
If you want heat more than a flame, look at the Ignik Skullet. It puts out 48,000 BTU/hr in 360 degrees like a patio heater. You close its vents for heating mode and open them for cooking mode. It has a tip-over safety switch and a built-in igniter. Like the FireCans, it is outdoor-only: its manual carries the same carbon monoxide warning, never to use it in an enclosed space such as a camper, tent, car or home, and not under an overhead structure such as an awning. The manual asks for 48 in of clearance at the sides and 72 in above, and a 30-minute cool-down before you move it. The Skullet Deluxe adds the adjustable legs, which set skillet height from 29 to 39 in and Ignik's cast-iron skillet.
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FAQ
Is a propane fire pit allowed during a fire ban?
Sometimes. It depends on the order's wording. Some exempt only stoves and lanterns with a shut-off valve, which doesn't cover a fire pit, and some ban all open flame. Check the current order where you camp.
Can I use a FireCan under my RV awning?
No. Ignik's manuals say not to use it under an overhead structure and to keep 72 in clear above it.
What tank does a FireCan need?
A propane tank no larger than 20 lb with a QCC1 valve, held by an approved stabilizer. A 20 lb BBQ tank or a refillable Gas Growler both work.
Can I cook on the original FireCan?
Ignik says its flame is calibrated for heat and isn't suitable for cooking. Ignik's FireCan Deluxe has a separate grill burner, but it isn't available from us right now. To cook on propane at camp, the Skullet has a cook mode.
Can I put wood in a FireCan?
No. It is designed to burn propane only. Don't add wood or any other solid fuel.