MistaBrown,

Trappers and aboriginal peoples build a long fire, let it burn down, then cover it with a few inches of soil and sleep on top of it. It would be easy to set up a tarp over it.

On overnight ski trips on snow I have used a Whelen nylon lean-to with fire in front of it. It is real luxury to warm your feet, socks, and boots by the fire. If your prepare wood ahead of time it is easy to wake every 3 hours or so and add some wood.