With the weather getting a bit colder, I decided to research the fake fireplace I have. Turns out, it's a gel fuel unit. That means, instead of wood or logs, you burn cans filled with an alcohol gel. Kind of like sterno cans for chaffing dishes. They burn for about 2-3 hours, have pretty long flames and crackle like a fire. Plus, no extra ventilation needed as they burn clean with no real fumes (also, I can move the unit to just about any area I want to). of course, the fuel is kind of expensive. It makes the living room seem cozy though! Fortunately, it doesn't give off a ton of heat. Unfortunately, my cat is a bit scared of it. He's never seen fire before, so he's not sure what to make of it.

I'll try to attach a photo or two, one with the fire screen, one without: