Safety Tips for you Fire Pit

6/14/2022 (Permalink)

Nothing screams summer more then gathering with friends and family around a campfire. While this is a pastime enjoyed by many, safety precautions must be taken anytime you’re dealing with an open flame. Here are 10 tips to help keep you and your loved ones safe.

1. Check the Wind Conditions

Never attempt to start a fire with unusually strong winds, kindling can blow to surrounding brush and structures creating the threat for a fire.

2. Burn in an Open Area

Never start a fire under over hangings or near trees, always keep lawn furniture and flammable materials away from the fire.

3. Don’t Burn Treated Lumber

While it may be tempting to burn any extra lumber you have from a project around the house, construction materials like MDF, pressure-treated boards, and plywood are treated with chemicals that admit toxic fumes.

4. Be Prepared to Extinguish the Flames

Best practices include keep a fire extinguisher or fire blanket on hand. Other safety measures can be having a hose near by to quench the flames and a shovel to smother the flames with dirt. 

5. Keep Chairs Back

While it may be tempting, especially when roasting marshmallows, never put your chairs too close to the fire. It’s also best to keep sleeves rolled up and hair pulled back when cooking over an open flame.

6. Keep Small Children and Pets at least 3ft back

Setting a boundary for how close kids and pets can come to an open flame greatly reduces the potential for them to accidentally injure themselves. Draw the line and stick to it.

7. Never Leave a Fire Unattended

Even if it seems like the flames have died down never leave a fire unattended until it is completely extinguished. Pour water on live embers and turn logs to make sure all sides of wood have stopped burning.

8. Please Drink Responsibly

Not only is alcohol flammable it can greatly impairs coordination, reflexes, and judgment which could be potentially dangerous to everyone around the fire.

9. Check for No-Burn Alerts

When weather conditions and high emissions combine to increase pollution, some municipalities will issue no-burn alerts. These should be followed to keep yourself and your community safe. Failure to comply may result in fine.

10. Store Firewood Safely

Keep firewood a safe distance from the fire pit. While it may be tempting to stack next to the pit when you’re feeding the fire, distance helps prevent the fire from jumping and feeding itself.

Wishing you all a fun and safe summer from your friends at SERVPRO of Central Auglaize/Hardin/Logan Counties!