Backyard Fire Pit Safety Tips....

6/29/2022 (Permalink)

5/24/2019

One of the most enjoyable parts of summer is being able to gather family and friends around a backyard fire pit. To ensure that these nights are as safe as they are fun, here we will go over some safety tips to prevent a fire from occurring.

Positioning:

Make sure your fire pit is a minimum of 10 feet away from any structure. Do not position the fire pit under a covered porch or low hanging branches, it’s best to have it out in the open with no neighboring trees or bushes. Always place a fire pit on a non-flammable surface such as concrete. Never put a fire put on a wooden deck or directly on grass.

Preparation:

Clear away any flammable materials in close proximity before lighting your fire pit. A five foot break in vegetation around the fire pi will help prevent any escaped flames from spreading. Piling dirt or rocks around the pit will also help prevent any spreading of fire. The pit should be about six inches deep at the center and two feet across to help keep embers and flames contained.

Lighting:

Always check the wind direction when lighting your fire pit and be sure to remove anything down wind of it. If it is too windy do not light your fire pit. Do not use lighter fluid, while it may be easier, instead a commercial fire starter stick with kindling will work just as well. Do no use any flammable fluids to light or relight the fire.

Extinguishing:

Always have a shovel on hand to extinguish any escaped flames. Extinguish with water, drown it and then stir with the shovel until it’s fully extinguished. Dispose of ashes in a metal tin kept nearby and let cool for several days as ashes may stay hot for up to 72 hours. Never discard of hot ashes in a compost pile, paper bag, cardboard box, or anything that is combustible!