Abstract: A direct vent fireplace unit that resembles an open hearth wood fireplace. The unit is installable in the interior of a dwelling above a surface defining an outer hearth. The unit includes an outer casing to define a cavity in the dwelling adjacent the outer hearth surface. A combustion chamber is provided having enclosing walls, a floor, a roof and an open front face with a combustion air inlet and an exhaust outlet communicating the combustion chamber with the exterior of the dwelling. The combustion chamber is mountable within the cavity of the outer casing such that the floor of the combustion chamber is substantially co-planar with the surface defining the outer hearth. A burner element for burning fuel within the combustion chamber is connectable to a fuel supply. A controller to control the burner element and a transparent cover mountable over the open front of the combustion chamber to seal the combustion chamber from the interior of the dwelling are also provided.