Campfires - Reflector Fire

A reflector fire is really any fire that has some sort of flat surface behind it to direct the heat back out past the fire. This surface is erected behind the fire and pointed, for example, at the face of a tent, lean-to or other shelter. This back reflector can be made out of a few large slabs of bark, several logs laid against supports and stacked upon each other to form the surface. Rocks can also be used but just like those used to ring a fire, make sure they do not contain moisture. That trapped moisture can be heated to where it's like a steam engine with no release valve. Exploding rocks can send shrapnel and shards flying in every direction!

you should be ok with the bricks.  My burn pile  in the back of my yard is made from cinder block

That's what I thought.  Seems to me they make the bricks by firing them in high tempts.  We've never been able to have fires in our own back yard until this year.  Lived in the city where it was prohibited.

They would allow the stand alone fire pits as long as you were cooking on them too.  But it just ain't the same as being in the woods, so we didn't bother with the hassle.  No problem anymore tho.