Fire Pit Safety Techniques

The benefits of an outdoor fireplace are plentiful, but to fully make the most of your investment, the fire must be properly maintained. This is to ensure complete safety during operation, as sparks and flames can cause a great deal of damage.

Whether you have recently purchased a fire pit or you are planning on doing so, this article will provide you with all the safety information you need to keep you and your family safe.

Check the weather conditions

Before embarking on lighting the fire, it’s important to check the weather — if the conditions are too windy, the task of lighting the fire is made considerably more difficult and the embers and flames can quickly spread onto surrounding areas that may be flammable. Not only that, guests won’t want to be covered in smoke while sitting around the fire, so if the weather does get windy, make sure there is space for them to sit comfortably upwind.

It’s worth investing in a spark screen / guard to protect the safety of you and your guests while still keeping everyone warm. Remember: these screens get very hot, so make sure you use fire-safe tools or gloves when moving them and don’t let children or pets get too close.

Lighting the fire

In the excitement of enjoying the benefits of a fire pit, some overlook the correct lighting methods. You should never use dangerous fuels such as gasoline, lighter fluid, or kerosene as they can cause a fire to quickly get out of control. Instead, appropriate fire starter methods must be used, such as matches or a kitchen lighter.

Never leave a fire pit unattended

While this might seem like obvious advice, being in the comfort of their own home can lead some people to leave a fire pit unattended, even if it’s to pop inside for a drink or some food. No matter how small the fire is, it can quickly spread, and if this is not addressed quickly, it can cause a great deal of damage. As such, always make sure someone is maintaining the fire, and never leave children or pets unsupervised.

Keep fire safety equipment close by

Accidents can always happen, no matter how safe you are, so equipping the area with a bucket of water or keeping a hose nearby is crucial in case a flame gets out of control.

Extinguishing the fire

When the time comes to put out the fire, it’s important to gently sprinkle the water rather than pouring it all over the flames in one go as this can damage the fire pit. Once the fire is extinguished and has turned to embers, mix the ash and embers around the fire pit using a shovel — when the ash is completely cold, it can be disposed of correctly. 

For extra precaution, it’s recommended that you check the fire pit again the following day as it might still be hot or have a few embers. With this in mind, make sure children and pets are kept clear of the area to avoid any accidents.

Where is a fire pit best placed?

When positioning the fire pit, you must consider the surfacing and surrounding area. An even, stable surface will lower the risk of the fire spilling onto the ground and spreading. A fire pit should also never be placed directly on a flammable surface such as grass — if this is not an option for you, make sure the fire pit is safely elevated so it doesn’t burn the ground.

You should also avoid enclosed areas as fire pits need a well-ventilated space, and you must also assess the area above the fire pit to make sure nothing is covering it — this includes tree branches, lights and power lines. 

What should you keep away from a fire pit?

When it comes to fueling the fire, avoid throwing any paper, trash or flammable materials, such as plywood, MDF or any pressure / chemically treated wood, into the flames as they can cause the embers and burning residue to spread. 

What is safe to put on a fire pit?

Hardwood kindling and logs are the ideal materials to put on a fire pit. As an alternative, you might choose to use damaged tree branches if you have that option — harder woods like oak are the preferred choice as opposed to soft woods like pine due to burning efficiency. 

If you are looking to add a fire pit or an outdoor fire feature to your property in Collierville, Memphis or anywhere else in West Tennessee, get in touch with the experts at Outdoor Living today.