Fire Pit Safety

There is nothing quite like enjoying some outdoor time around a fire pit with your family and friends. If you look forward to spending your time around a fire pit, here are some tips to be able to enjoy your time safely. 

How to Choose a Locations for Your Fire Pit 

Where your fire pit is located is perhaps the most important aspect of ensuring your safety. Here are some things to consider when choosing where your fire pit will be located.  

• Place it on flat, level ground. This is true especially if it is a portable fire pit.  You want to reduce the chances of the fire pit being tipped over.
• Place it on non-flammable surfaces. A patio, concrete pad or on some sort of gravel or stone surface are great choices for placement.  You will want to avoid placing a fire pit on a deck or grass.
• Keep it away from landscaping. Place or build your fire pit away from bushes, shrubs trees and low hanging branches.  If you are building a fire pit you will also want to pay attention to the future growth pattern of any landscaping, you don’t want a nearby bush to grow into the fire pit.
• Keep it away from structures. A fire pit should be at least 25 feet away from any structure such as your house, a garage, a shed, pergola or pool cabana.
• Do not place your fire pit inside a covered patio, deck or garage.

Fire Pit Safety Precautions 

• Keep the fire small. The bigger the fire, the harder it is to maintain control.
• Be mindful of the weather. If it is windy, you may want to save your fire for another day.
• Have a safety plan. Keep a hose, bucket of water or fire extinguisher nearby so that you can easily contain the fire if it becomes necessary.
• Check with your local fire department and any other applicable organizations to see if getting a permit is necessary.
• Keep it covered. If you are building your fire in a fireproof container (such as a store bought fire pit), you will want to keep it covered with a mesh type cover so that you can prevent the hot ashes from flying away.  Fires can easily cause brush fires if they are not contained.
• Be smart about how you start your fire. Avoid using a liquid fire starter to start a fire because it can quickly become larger than you can control. 

Recap 

When safety precautions are taken, fire pits can be a feature that helps you enjoy your time at home. We encourage you to review our thoughts and then grab some marshmallows, graham crackers, chocolate to cook up some s’mores and create some memories!

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This article is for general informational purposes only and is not to be relied upon or used for any particular purpose. Cross Insurance shall not be held responsible in any way for, and specifically disclaims any liability arising out of or in any way connected to, reliance on or use of any of the information contained in this article. The information contained or referenced in this article is not intended to constitute and should not be considered legal, insurance, accounting or other professional advice, nor shall it serve as a substitute for the recipient obtaining such advice. The views expressed in this article are that of its author and do not necessarily represent the views of Cross Financial Corp. and its subsidiaries and affiliates (“Cross Insurance”) or Cross Insurance’s management or shareholders.