There is no such thing as being too careful when it comes to safety. Keep your family safe with our fire pit safety tips!
Who doesn’t love firepits? Its mesmerizing flames and beautiful embers set the ambiance for creating precious memories. But like all beauty, if not handled correctly can cause chaos.
Because fire paired with strong wind makes it unpredictable and dangerous.
That’s why it's important that you always follow our fire pit safety tips to create a deck safe fire pit for your family.
But first, let’s answer the most obvious question…
Why Heed Fire Safety Tips?
This question seems unintelligent, but you’d be surprised how often homeowners ignore them.
And this is evident in one study, which showed an increase in burn injuries amongst 19 years old and below caused by firepits. Sadly, the majority of the burn victims were under 5 years old.
So if you’re thinking of purchasing an American Fyre Designs or the outdoor plus fire pit, we strongly advise that you practice the following fire pit safety tips…
7 Fire Pit Safety Tips To Keep Your Family Safe
… while enjoying a stress-free evening!
Compared to older models, a modern fireplace is designed to be more fire-proof.
However, without paying attention to how you use it can still cause injury or worse, spread fire.
1. Observe a Safe Fire Pit Distance
We’ve placed this as a top priority because the placement of your fire pit can greatly prevent any safety hazards.
Follow the 10-25 rule when thinking about where you should put your fire pit. It should be 10-25 feet away from your home, trees, or any flammable structures, which includes overhanging materials.
Also, to prevent burn injuries leave at least a 7-10 feet gap between your chair and the fire pit.
And if you have the benefits of an outdoor kitchen , make sure it’s substantially far from a fire pit. Especially if you plan to cook while your fire pit is alight. This can cause excessive heat, dehydration, and burn.
Can you put a fire pit on a deck?
We’ve had a lot of inquiries about this.
If your deck is 10-25 feet away from your home or any flammable materials, then the answer is yes.
2. Do A Weather Check
Word of advice: never underestimate the power of nature
Too often, homeowners would disregard weather reports because they’re confident about the distance of their fire pit from their home.
But this could be a fatal mistake…
Because strong wind is the perfect fuel since it supplies fire with oxygen and scatters embers that can potentially create a blaze.
It’s good to remember that there is no such thing as too safe when it comes to your family’s welfare.
3. Check If There Is A No-Burn Alert
The No-Burn alert is the prevention of health hazards.
This means that residents are not allowed to light a residential fireplace, outdoor fire pits, or wooden stoves within 24 hours after the No-Burn alert has been issued.
The alert is issued by the South Coast Air Quality Management District (South Coast AQMD) when emissions and stagnant weather cause unhealthy levels of fine particulate pollution.
Even if this is not a safety hazard, do not disregard it. Because it can save you from debilitating lung disease
4. Use The Correct Fuel
The safety measures you need to observe would depend on the type of fuel you use for your Prism Hardscapes fire pit. It can be propane, gas, ethanol, or wood.
Some of these types don’t need many precautions as long as you follow the manufacturer's manual.
However, if you’re using wood observe the following
- Do not use softwoods
- Use woods that were cut at least 6 months prior
- Use natural wood, dry, and seasoned (oak, beech)
- Use a match or lighter
5. Keep A Fire Extinguisher Close By - All The Time!
Before you light your fire pit, make sure you have a fire extinguisher, a bucket of water, or a garden hose near you.
You need to keep in mind that there are different types of fire extinguishers.
So when buying, make sure that you choose one that covers Class ABC. These are classes that can put out solid combustibles, flammable liquids, and flammable gases.
And if you have no idea how to use one, no worries! Just remember the acronym PASS which means…
Pull the pin
Aim at the base of the fire
Squeeze the trigger
Sweep the nozzle side to side
6. Do Not Leave The Fire Unattended
What’s the harm in doing a quick errand to the kitchen? It will only take you a few seconds, right?
Well… It only takes a few seconds for an accident to happen. And we don’t just mean a wildfire but think about if you have children running around or sitting around the fire.
So to prevent any mishap, keep your eye on the fire and its surrounding.
7. Put Out The Fire Properly
When putting out a fire pit with wood as fuel, you can use water, sand, or a fire extinguisher.
The important thing is to make sure that you’ve 100% doused it because a small ember can start a fire.
If you’re using propane or gas, make sure you’ve completely turned it off.
There Is No Substitute For Safety!
We know it is a lot to take in… But there is nothing more precious than life itself. Hence the 7 life-saving tips!
Here is the summary of the dos and don’ts when lighting a fire pit:
- Do consider screens
- Do drink responsibly
- Don’t throw trash in the fire pit
- Don't wear flammable clothing
- Don’t use soft wood because it can spark
- Dont place chairs too near, at least 7 feet away
- Don't use gasoline, lighter fluid, etc. to light the fire
- Do keep children and pets away from the fire, at least three feet gap
- Do secure a fire extinguisher, a bucket of water or a garden hose close by
Now that you already know how to safely light a fire pit, it’s time for you to buy one! Check out our catalogue and make your nights a litter warmer with your family!
