I wouldn't screw around with cementing in the bricks if your sap is on hold and the temps are going tropical.

Just stack up the bricks and be gentle when you put in the firewood.

We had a Half Pint a few years back. Generally if you have an inch of sap in the pan when your sap tank
runs dry, you stop fireing and let it coast to a stop. Get out what syrup you can then transfer to a small pot in the kitchen
or a gas turkey frier or whatever.

Get a gallon or two of vinegar ... if you can find it get "cleaning vinegar". It's 10% acetic acid instead of the usual 5%. Put it in an let it stand, brushing with a soft brush until everything on the bottom is loose. When your happy, Leader says to make a mild solution of baking soda to rinse. Then a fresh water rinse, flip it over and clean the soot off the bottom. Shouldn't be to tough with only 8 - 10 hours of boiling. If the soot becomes an issue, use Easy-Off oven cleaner.

Good luck. I remember how excited we were when we started the first fire in the Half Pint.