Fire Pit Safety

4/27/2022 (Permalink)

An example of a homemade firepit.

Spring is here, summer is right around the corner, and it's time for camping and trips to the sandy beaches. Bonfires are the best part but can also be the most dangerous. There are at least 5,300 injuries a year related to outdoor firepits that send people to the ER, according to 2017 Consumer Product Safety Commission. A 2019 study found that 19 years old and younger suffered 10,951 burns related to fire pits between 2006 and 2017. So, here are some tips on how to play it safe this summer! S’mores not required (but surely recommended):

• Place your pit far from houses and other structures that can burn.
• Avoid bushes, trees, fencing, electrical wires, etc., and anything vulnerable to heat.
• Ideal placement is in the middle of a backyard or a clearing (at least 10-foot buffer zone around the pit).
• Try to avoid windy and wooden decks- clear foliage underneath at least twice the pits perimeter.
• Always place a spark screen on top after the pit is built and keep water on hand to douse the flames.
• Stay away from soft wood like cedar and pine, as they tend to spark and smoke. Get hardwoods like ash, hickory, and oak.
• Wood should be dry and not rotten. You can check by cutting the wood in half and using a moisture meter.
• To douse the fire, spread our coals and ash into the thinnest layer possible and set the nozzle on a hose to a wide spray. Never just pour a bucket of water, as it will create a hard crust on top and have hot embers still burning underneath.

Don’t forget to skewer marshmallows on the end of a long, fire-safe metal rod or grill fork with a heatproof handle to avoid getting burned! SERVPRO of Beaumont wishes you a fun filled and safe summer!

For more information, visit Fire Pit Safety Advice - Consumer Reports