No one quiet knows what the Gamemakers put in the pit, they just know if you fall in. You Die within an hour. (If you have a rope you can climb out) -100 HP every hour for being in the pit
The fire starts and stops in hour intervals. Like a chute you can climb up as long as the fire is off. If you're in it while the fires on? Well just hope you have burn medicine (-150 HP) if you're in the chute when the fire goes.