It's really not a big deal, this CreekFire thing.

Some creative people have simply designed a floating a fire pit, made of stainless steel, which they will anchor to the bottom of the Codorus Creek and set ablaze Saturday for the amusement of whoever shows up.

Except for the flames and the beyond-obvious cool factor - seriously, a floating fire pit? - this is just a laid-back public gathering of people who may or may not dig it, said Jack Longstreet, the man behind CreekFire.

Longstreet said he saw photos last year of a similar event in Providence, R.I. That might work in York, he thought.

"Let's just put a floating fire pit out there. It gets lit, it burns, and then it goes out," he said.

Freshly inspired, Longstreet set out last year to construct a floating fire pit from one sitting in his backyard. Then, in August, he tried it out on the Codorus during a small, unannounced gathering of local movers and shakers.

The fire "was popping and cracking. You could hear that sound bouncing off the concrete walls down there. That was pretty cool," said Longstreet, who works as the city's sewer maintenance supervisor.

Afterward, Longstreet passed his idea to Foundry Plaza, a nonprofit that promotes the city's waterway. Foundry Plaza funded the design and construction of the fire pit that will float Saturday. Artists at Salvaging Creativity are working on two more, Longstreet said.

The main idea behind CreekFire, Longstreet said, is to get people to appreciate the creek. There was a time, he said, when the Codorus was regarded as a dirty, stinky waterway.

"It's not that way anymore. It has improved so much in the past 30 years. I don't think it gets the respect or the recognition that it deserves," Longstreet said. "Clearly the creek has improved. The bald eagles fish there."

Saturday's event will probably be followed by future CreekFires, but that's not set in stone.

Longstreet said the fire might last an hour, maybe two, "I don't know."

The public is invited to gather at Foundry Park off West Philadelphia Street.

Things will get going around dusk, about 7:45 p.m., Longstreet said.

Or whenever someone finds the matches.

- Reach Erin James at 505-5439 or ejames@yorkdispatch.com or on Twitter @ydcity.