Fire pits can be found in millions of suburban backyards across the globe. They have become so popular that a 2016 survey revealed fire pits are the most sought-after outdoor design element. Fire pits remain wildly popular a half decade after that survey. However, homeowners should know the dos and don’ts as they plan this summer’s s’mores sessions.
DO keep the fire pit a safe distance away from the home. Fire pits should be located a safe distance from the home. Safety experts recommend keeping fire pits a minimum of 10 to 20 feet away from a house or other structure, such as a shed or a detached garage. The further away the fire is from houses and other structures, the less likely those structures are to catch on fire.
DON’T place the fire pit beneath trees or next to shrubs. Though fire pits should be kept safe distances away from a house and other structures, it’s important that they’re not placed beneath trees or next to shrubs. Shrubs and low hanging branches can easily catch embers and be lit ablaze, so make sure fire pits are not placed in locations that increase that risk.
DO clean out seasonal debris. It can be tempting to let seasonal debris resting inside the fire pit burn away during the season’s first s’mores session. But burning debris poses a serious safety risk, as embers can easily be blown out of the fire pit, and catch nearby trees or shrubs, or even a home on fire. The National Fire Protection Association says embers blowing from a backyard fire pose the same threat to homes as if they are from a wildfire.
DON’T let fire pits burn near flammable materials. Store firewood piles a safe distance away from the fire pit while it’s in operation. It may be convenient to keep firewood right next to the fire pit while the fire is burning, but that increases the risk that embers will land on firewood and start a fire outside of the pit.
DO check the weather report prior to starting the fire. Windy weather increases the risk of embers blowing around and potentially landing on the house, other structures around the property, or trees. If the weather report is calling for gusting winds, burn a fire on another night.
DON’T leave a fire pit burning. Unattended recreational fires are illegal and incredibly dangerous. Never leave fire pit fires burning unattended or allow fires to slowly die out overnight. Always extinguish the fire before going inside, and stop adding wood to the fire roughly one hour before you plan to go inside. Water or sand can be poured on ashes to extinguish the fire. Once confident a fire has been extinguished, ashes can be spread around to ensure there are no hot spots still burning. If there are, start the extinguishing process over again.
A night around the fire pit is a summertime tradition in many households. Safety must be as much a part of such traditions as s’mores.
