It has been a month now - and no advice givers!!! Hope you find something that will work for you. I have a firepit - made of stones. Easy and cheap, but you indicate that you can't accomodate a full circle pit.

Fire prone Oregon you need to make sure exactly what is allowed during summer fire season months. I recommend to our residents (I work for a wildland fire agency) nothing that is metal because fire regulations say they have to be out before you leave them or go to bed - never leave unattended etc... So metal you can't put water on without warping and other issues. Not sure about masonary but would think the same situation would happen. What is wrong with just a fire pit dug into the ground and surrounded by rocks or cement bricks? You can then drown and stir the fire until out cold. By your mention of salt air you must mean over at the coast and fire regualtiosn still apply there... So start off by inquiring with your wildland fire protection agency to see what they recommend. I have a campfire pit at my house so I can put out without causing damage to the fire area. Of course I live in a more fire prone area of Oregon but fire season is fire season.. good luck.