Fire Pits and Open Burning Safety

10/5/2022 (Permalink)

Safety measures for enjoying your outdoor fire pit this Fall

The hot and humid summer months in Georgia leave families yearning for those cool, Fall days that quite frankly can never seem to get here soon enough. We begin daydreaming about sitting around the fire pit you installed in your backyard a few months prior. You can even start to smell the aroma of toasted marshmallows and can hear the rumble of an SEC college football game playing over your shoulder on your back deck, outdoor television. Some of us go so far as to projecting the game on a white bedsheet draped on the backside of your house. Guilty. We love our Fall in Georgia! 

But just as you keep tabs on your fireplace inside your home, you should treat outdoor firepits with the same attention to safety. While these reminders may seem obvious, one would be surprised at how often safety measures pertaining to firepits are ignored. The tidbits we are sharing here seem fairly obvious, but it is always surprising when you see case studies of how many people in the US ignore these safety measures! The National Fire Protection Association offers some great reading material on ensuring the safety of your friends and family members longing for the invite to gather around that new firepit of yours:

• Check the wind direction before lighting a fire.
• Do not use flammable fluids such as gasoline, lighter fluid, etc. to light a fire, or to even “liven the fire up a bit,” as folks say.
• Don’t wear flammable clothing, such as nylon products or loose-fitting clothing.
• Mama, keep the children at least 3 feet from the firepit, and Dad, make sure the dog does the same!
• Avoid using soft woods for the fire, such as pine or cedar, to prevent erratic pops and sparks.
• And always, keep a fire extinguisher, a bucket of water, or a garden hose nearby when enjoying your firepit.