Outdoor Fire Pit Safety - Common Sense Guidelines for Safe Use of Your Outdoor Fire Pit
Posted: Friday, January 08, 2010
by Marilyn Sealy
Sealy Enterprises, LLC
Outdoor fire pits come in so many shapes and sizes and can complement any decor beautifully. Your outdoor fire pit can help you to enjoy quality time with family and friends around a cozy fire, create just the right ambiance for that romantic dinner, or just take the chill off of the cool night air. To make sure that you get the most enjoyment from your outdoor fire pit, it's really important to take care to use it safely!
It's generally best to start slow and keep the fire well-controlled. Most experts recommend that you use natural materials such as kindling or commercially available fire starter sticks for starting a fire rather than lighter fluids or other chemical products. These natural materials generally give you greater control as they start a little more slowly. Starting a fire too quickly can easily allow it to get out of control before you know it. Most experts also agree that a fire will last longer if you start small. For yours and your family's safety, start small - go slow!
Another consideration of fire building is the stacking of wood and kindling. Again, for greater control and higher levels of safety, be careful to not stack the wood/kindling too high in the outdoor fire pit. Often times, as wood burns, it shifts and falls. This can create a very dangerous situation very quickly - especially if the wood is stacked high.
Positioning of Your Outdoor Fire Pit
Another important factor in proper use of your outdoor fire pit is to keep your fire pit a safe distance from your home and any outdoor furniture or other flammable materials. Experts recommend it be placed at least ten feet from your home and three to five feet from furniture, plants, foliage, etc. It takes only seconds for disaster to strike. Also make sure that your fire pit is placed on a steady/level surface.
In addition, it is recommended that you clear away brush and dead/dry vegetation in about a 15 to 20-foot circle around your fire pit, and avoid placing your fire pit near low hanging trees where errant sparks and heat might ignite dry foliage and branches. A spark screen is recommended. Keep a working fire extinguisher or garden hose with a spray nozzle nearby, so that if sparks do escape the fire, you can smother them quickly.
Never place a fire pit in an enclosed area; fumes from it can be harmful without proper ventilation.
Liquid Propane (LP) and Natural Gas (NG) Fires
LP and NG fires generally require less attention/tending and are more convenient and easy to light. However, there are important precautions to take when using these types of products as well. Before each use of your LP or NG fire products, you should check all of the hoses, valves and attachments to make sure there are no leaks or holes before introducing any kind of flame or spark. If your LP or NG fire product uses a pilot-light for fire starting, be sure to check it periodically to make sure it has not been blown out and that combustible gases are not leaking into your fire area. Always know how and where to shut of your LP or NG supply in case of an emergency.
Personal Protection
Last, but certainly not least, be sure to protect yourself! Never handle hot fire pits or embers. Always allow the pit and other fire materials to cool fully before cleaning, and during the burning of the fire, use a poker or log grabber to move and arrange logs.
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Top-level comments on this article: (3 total)well done, well written. welcome to searchwarp! (i'm capitallly impaired...lol) you'll learn to appreciate the critiques of your fellow writers here. few of us are profesionals and can appreciate that which is heartfelt.RichThanks a bunch! I really appreciate your comments.my pleasure, Marilyn. Oh, and add your photograph, oddly enough, that will increase your traffic. For some reason, people like to see who is writing what!
I will do that right away! Thanks again!
Marilyn, again...welcome to searchwarp...
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