Fire Magic Gas Grill Comparison Guide

Fire Magic grills are manufactured by RH Peterson Co., headquartered in City of Industry, California. The same parent company makes American Outdoor Grill (AOG) and Peterson Real Fyre Gas Logs. Fire Magic has been in continuous production since 1937 — over 85 years — and sits at the top of the residential outdoor grill market alongside Lynx and Twin Eagles, with construction and warranty terms that match or exceed both.

Brand position: every Fire Magic grill we carry is built from 304 stainless steel. Echelon Diamond and Aurora share patented Diamond Sear cooking grids, ¼-inch thick cast stainless steel "E" Burners (lifetime-warrantied), and Push-to-Light Hot Surface Ignition. Choice uses 14-gauge u-shaped stainless burners and Turn-to-Light spark ignition that needs no electricity. Legacy Charcoal covers built-in and post-mount stainless steel charcoal grills plus the powder-coated Lift-A-Fire entry. The EL500 and E251 electric series add fully electric outdoor cooking for spaces where gas isn't available.

The lineup we carry covers five gas/charcoal/electric series — Echelon Diamond, Aurora, Choice, Legacy Charcoal, and Electric — plus three adjacent product categories: the Echelon Built-In Pizza Oven, the Aurora & Echelon Built-In Griddles, and the new Echelon E540D Drop-In Grill. Browse the full Fire Magic collection for current pricing and inventory across all eight pages.

The five series differ across four axes: fuel type (gas on Echelon/Aurora/Choice, charcoal on Legacy, electric on EL500/E251), control face (Black Glass touchscreen on Echelon Diamond; analog on Aurora, Choice, Legacy, and EL500 analog), ignition (Hot Surface Ignition requiring 120V on Echelon and Aurora; Turn-to-Light spark with no power on Choice; matchstick on Legacy Charcoal), and burner architecture (cast stainless "E" Burners on Echelon and Aurora; 14-gauge u-shaped stainless on Choice; tube burners on the E540D drop-in; heating elements on Electric).

Echelon Diamond is Fire Magic's top-of-line series. Black Glass touchscreen control panel with Bluetooth/Wi-Fi remote on the digital models, ¼-inch thick cast stainless steel "E" Burners, patented Diamond Sear cooking grids, recessed rotisserie backburner, internal halogen lights, optional left-side Infrared Sear Burner, and optional Magic View Window. The four sizes we carry: E660i 30″ (660 sq in main, 75,000 BTU + 11,000 BTU backburner), E790i 36″ (792 sq in, 90,000 + 13,000 BTU), E1060i 48″ (1,056 sq in, 112,000 + 22,000 BTU as 11,000 × 2), and the E1060s 48″ portable on a cart base that adds a 60,000 BTU Power Burner. Best fit: outdoor kitchens where the touchscreen, app control, and Magic View Window justify the premium over Aurora.

Aurora delivers the same Diamond Sear cooking grids, the same cast stainless "E" Burners, the same 90° opening hood, the same hot surface ignition, and the same BTU output per size as Echelon Diamond — at a lower price point with Fire Magic's traditional analog control face and analog thermometer. SKU code on the burner config: "8" includes the rotisserie backburner; "7" omits it. The five sizes we carry: A430i 24″ (432 sq in, 50,000 BTU), A540i 30″ (540 sq in, 63,000 BTU), A660i 30″ (660 sq in, 75,000 BTU), A790i 36″ (792 sq in, 90,000 BTU; "L" suffix swaps the left main burner for an Infrared Sear Burner), and the A830i 46″ Combo (gas side 24″ × 18″ delivering 50,000 BTU plus a charcoal side with a 26,000 BTU charcoal igniter — gas and charcoal cooked side by side). Best fit: buyers who want Echelon-level cooking performance and warranty terms without the touchscreen.

Choice is Fire Magic's most affordable gas line — superior design and stainless construction in a simpler satin stainless façade. Diamond Sear cooking grids carry through; the burner architecture switches to 14-gauge u-shaped stainless steel main burners (still lifetime-warrantied), the ignition switches to Turn-to-Light spark ignition that requires no power and no batteries, and the analog thermometer measures up to 1000°F. The three core sizes: C430s 24″ (432 sq in, 46,000 BTU; in-ground or patio post mount), C540i 30″ built-in (540 sq in, 60,000 BTU), C650i 36″ built-in (648 sq in, 69,000 BTU). Two Multi-User trims expand on the same chassis: CM (Multi-User) adds a 1-hour mechanical shut-off timer on the post or oven for shared-use settings (apartment buildings, condo units, resorts); CMA (Accessible) reduces post height for ADA compliance and includes the Multi-User timer.

Legacy Charcoal covers two distinct sub-families. The 304 stainless steel SC01C built-ins ship with a stainless smoker hood (with adjustable air shutters), an adjustable charcoal pan that raises and lowers via a crank handle for direct or indirect cooking, a front-loading charcoal door for refilling without lifting the hood, and an analog thermometer. Three SC01C variants: 12-SC01C-A 24″ built-in (432 sq in main + 288 sq in warming rack), 14-SC01C-A 30″ built-in (540 sq in + 360 sq in warming), and 22-SC01C 24″ post-mount (432 sq in + 288 sq in warming, on a 304 stainless steel post with bolt-down pedestal in patio P6 or in-ground G6 configurations). The Lift-A-Fire 3339 is the entry-tier 24″ built-in — powder-coated steel construction with the same adjustable charcoal pan and easy-open front door, but cooking grids are ordered separately as accessories.

Two electric tiers. EL500 is the premium 30″ electric grill — Diamond Sear cooking grids over a dual heating element, preheat under 15 minutes, and a temperature range up to 700°F (digital touchscreen) or 650°F (analog). EL500 requires a dedicated 240VAC / 30A circuit; we carry it in patio P6, in-ground G6, accessible patio AP, and accessible in-ground AG post-mount configurations (analog SKU root EL500S-0Z1E-*). E251 is the compact 15½″ electric grill — 252 sq in cooking surface, plug-in 120V / 15A, reaches 650°F. The two E251 variants we carry: E251s patio post (folding side shelves, digital thermometer with meat probe) and E251t counter top. Best fit for EL500: outdoor kitchens where gas isn't available and the buyer wants a premium grilling surface. Best fit for E251: balconies, rooftops, and small patios where 240V isn't available.

Series-level feature comparison across the five Fire Magic gas/charcoal/electric series we carry. Per-model specifications — exact dimensions, BTU per burner, and SKUs by configuration — appear in the next section.

Four questions get you to the right Fire Magic series: what fuel you have access to, what electrical service you have at the install location, whether you want a touchscreen or analog control face, and how you actually cook.

• Natural gas line at the island: Echelon Diamond, Aurora, Choice, EL500 electric (still needs 240V), or E251 electric (no gas at all). Pick by control preference and budget.
• Propane only (no NG line): Same series with the LP variants — change "N" to "P" in the model number on Aurora, Echelon, Choice. Use a regulator on the LP tank.
• Charcoal preference (no gas at all): Legacy Charcoal — built-in (12/14-SC01C), post-mount (22-SC01C), or the Lift-A-Fire 3339 entry-tier built-in.
• No gas, no charcoal — only electric: EL500 if you have a 240V dedicated circuit, E251 if you only have a standard 120V outlet.

• No electrical service at all: Choice is the only gas series that lights without power — Turn-to-Light spark ignition. Pair with the Multi-User CM or Accessible CMA trim for a remote or shared install.
• Standard 120V outlet within reach: Echelon Diamond, Aurora, the Echelon Pizza Oven, the Aurora & Echelon Griddles, the new E540D drop-in, and the E251 compact electric all run on 120V / 15A.
• Dedicated 240V / 30A circuit (electrician install required): Required for the EL500 30″ electric series. Not required for any other Fire Magic product.

The Echelon Diamond digital models ship with a Black Glass touchscreen control panel, digital thermometer, and Bluetooth/Wi-Fi remote control via the Fire Magic app. The EL500 electric digital uses the same Black Glass panel. If you want the analog control face — knobs, analog thermometer, and no app — Aurora and Choice both deliver it, with Aurora matching Echelon's cooking output and Choice running without electricity entirely. Echelon also sells "9EAN" analog models that use the cast burner platform with a more traditional thermometer, if you want Echelon's burner architecture without the touchscreen.

• Rotisserie cooking (whole birds, prime rib, pork shoulder): Echelon Diamond ships with the rotisserie backburner standard; Aurora "8" SKUs include it; Choice and Legacy Charcoal do not. The rotisserie kit itself is a separate accessory across the gas lineup.
• Searing-focused (steak, lamb chops): Add the Infrared Sear Burner — A790i "L" suffix on Aurora; E1060i Infrared Sear option on Echelon. Locks in juices at 5× the heat of a standard burner.
• Charcoal flavor for everything: Legacy 14-SC01C-A 30″ built-in for the largest 304 SS charcoal grill, or the A830i Combo if you want gas and charcoal cooked side by side.
• Multi-family / commercial-style installs: Choice CM Multi-User adds a 1-hour timer; Choice CMA Accessible adds ADA height; EL500s AG/AP Accessible reduces the electric post height for ADA compliance.
• Compact balcony or rooftop: E251t counter top or E251s patio post — 120V plug-in, no gas hookup needed.

• Premium 36″ outdoor kitchen, NG, frequent rotisserie, evening grilling: Echelon Diamond E790i (E790I-9E1N) with the Black Glass touchscreen and standard backburner. Add the Magic View Window option for indoor monitoring.
• 30″ premium island, NG, rotisserie standard, traditional analog face: Aurora A660i with Backburner (A660I-8EAN). Same cooking output as Echelon E660i with knob-and-thermometer controls.
• 30″ value built-in, no electrical at the cutout, daytime cooking: Choice C540i (C540I-RT1P). Turn-to-Light ignition needs no power.
• 24″ patio post, multi-family resort or condo: Choice CM430s Multi-User patio post (CM430S-RT1N-P6). Includes the 1-hour mechanical timer.
• 24″ patio post, ADA-accessible install: Choice CMA430s Accessible (CMA430S-RT1N-P6). ADA-height post + Multi-User timer.
• 30″ charcoal-only built-in: Legacy 14-SC01C-A 30″. 304 SS construction with smoker hood and adjustable charcoal pan.
• 30″ premium electric, gas not available: EL500s analog patio post (EL500S-0Z1E-P6). Diamond Sear grids and 650°F on a 240V / 30A circuit.
• Compact apartment balcony, 120V outlet only: E251t counter top or E251s patio post. Plug in and grill.

Fire Magic publishes a single warranty document that covers every grill, griddle, and pizza oven in the lineup. Coverage is tiered by component, with the cast stainless burners, Diamond Sear cooking grids, and stainless steel housings warranted for life across every gas series. Fire Magic also pays the labor allowance for the first two years and ships warrantied replacement parts at no cost to the original purchaser.

Beyond the five core gas/charcoal/electric series, Fire Magic builds three adjacent product categories that pair naturally with a built-in grill in an integrated outdoor kitchen. Each lives on its own product page; specs below are at-a-glance only.

Black Glass touchscreen control panel with thermostatic digital control, 18″ × 18″ cordierite pizza stone (324 sq in), 18¼″ × 18¼″ baking rack (333 sq in), 36,000 BTU main burner, interior light, requires 110V / 120V outlet for ignition. 5660P is the propane variant we currently carry. Best fit: outdoor kitchens that already include a Fire Magic Echelon or Aurora gas grill and want the same Black Glass touchscreen controls on a dedicated pizza oven. Echelon Built-In Pizza Oven product page.

30″ built-in Gourmet Griddle in two trims. The E660i Echelon Griddle ships with the Black Glass touchscreen control panel and two independently controlled cooking zones. The A660i Aurora Griddle shares the same 30″ × 18″ stainless steel griddle plate, the same 45,000 BTU output (two heavy-duty SS burners), and the same independent zone control — but with Fire Magic's traditional analog control face. Both require a 110V / 120V outlet for ignition. Best fit: breakfast cooking, fajitas, smash burgers, hibachi-style cooking, and anything that benefits from a flat heated surface. Aurora & Echelon Built-In Griddles product page.

30″ drop-in member of the Echelon family, available with or without a hood. The E540D-6TAN (NG) and E540D-6TAP (LP) ship with the hood, internal halogen lights, a 240 sq in warming rack, and an optional rotisserie kit (3684A). The E540D-0T0N (NG) is the no-hood "flat top" configuration — same 540 sq in primary cooking surface and 54,000 BTU main burners, no hood, no warming rack. All three variants use 304 stainless steel tube burners, electric spark ignition (110V / 120V), and the standard E540D drop-in cutout (41¾″ W × 20¾″ D × 18″ H). Best fit: drop-in installs in countertops or carts where a full Echelon built-in cutout is not feasible. Echelon E540D Drop-In Grill product page.