Fire Pit Safety Tips

6/28/2022 (Permalink)

It’s a beautiful summer evening and the first fire in the fire pit of the year is about to be lit. Stop! Just for a moment, go through your checklist.  

Here at SERVPRO of White Plains, we have some advice for the newbies to the fire pit craze. First and foremost, enjoy yourselves. That can easily be accomplished by taking note of our safety suggestions for having a fire pit in your yard.  

There are different kinds of fire pits, brick or stone fire pits, copper bowl fire pits, wrought iron pits, pits just dug into the ground and the list goes on. The common denominator in all of them is to contain fire and prevent it from spreading. 

Research suggests that any fire pit should be at least 15-20 feet away from your house, structure, trees, fences, decks, vehicles. Fire pits should be in a clear spot with no low branches or hanging branches nearby. Check with your local municipality for their requirements. The ground should be cleared of any dead leaves, branches etc.  

Never put a fire pit on a deck, wood surface, or anything other than the manufacturer's directions.  

Check the direction of the wind and make sure conditions are favorable. Not all nights are going to be ideal for fire pits. Wind and wind gusts will cancel your fire pit nights, but making wise choices and remembering that there are plenty of clear, still nights to be had may ease your disappointment 

Use hardwoods such as hickory or oak. Hickory gives off that dreamy campfire smell that we all love. Oak does not have much smell at all. Stay clear of the softer woods that spark and smoke more like cedar or pine. 

If your fire pit didn’t come with a screen, we suggest investing in one. They are relatively inexpensive and can save you a lot of headaches. Have your yard or garden hose close by.  

Never ever leave an active fire pit unattended. Keep kids and pets away. Be careful with drinking alcohol around a fire pit. Alcohol can throw off your balance and you don’t want any accidents. 

Now for the fun part. Marshmallows, lot of them, and chocolate, peanut butter (you have to try it with peanut butter... game changer)! , and graham crackers if you are making smores. We suggest purchasing long skewers with a metal safe rod or the old-fashioned way a long skinny stick- you know the ones, not too skinny not too thick with the perfect point on the end to hold the marshmallow.  

After your night of fun, it’s time to put out the fire. Make sure there are no embers burning that can spark back up long after you’ve gone in for the night. 

Research tells us not to use a bucket of water to douse a fire in a pit. This can cause a hard crust to form and not get all of the embers or burning pieces underneath. Use your hose on wide spray or mist and give it a good dousing until the embers are all gone. 

Enjoy the wonderful memories you are creating and with our suggestions you will enjoy many nights around the fire pit.