Date Archives: June 15th, 2020

Our REALTORS® are seeing more homeowners enjoy the benefits of a backyard fire pit.  Gathering around a warm fire with your family is an excellent way to spend an evening. When using a fire pit, safety should always be your priority. 

Backyard Fire Pit Safety

Whether you already own a fire pit or getting ready to install one, precautionary measures are necessary for your safety.  

• Permanent or Portable: When installing a fire pit, you must choose the best option for your backyard. You can easily customize a permanent fire pit to match the rest of your landscape theme. Installing a permanent fire pit ensures you are following all the safety measures with each use. Generally, steel or cast iron, a portable fire pit, is convenient for moving from one location to another. The downside is continuously checking your surroundings to ensure a proper area for using the fire pit.
  
  
• Location: Place the fire pit at least 10 feet away from your home, any other buildings, fencing, and your neighbor's yard. For the best safety measure, consider placing your fire pit 25 feet from any structures. Also, do not place the fire pit under your covered porch, awning, or tree branches.
  
  
• Patio Blocks: When positioning your fire pit, surround the area with patio blocks, concrete, or other non-flammable surfaces for extra protection. Keep the fire pit away from any type of wooden deck or porch.
  
  
• Clear the Area: When setting up your fire pit, clear the surrounding area of any vegetation, branches, or other flammable materials. Consider packing stones or dirt around the fi pit to contain the fire.
  
  
• Dig Down: When digging out the area for your fire pit, go down at least six inches and two feet across. Following these guidelines will help keep the fire and embers in a centralized location. If you do not dig down, the fire could quickly jump over the outer edge and create damage.
  
  
• Position Chairs:  Keep your chairs or benches back away from the fire pit. You want enough legroom to quickly get up and move about without getting too close to the fire.
  
  
• Watch Children and Pets: When sitting around the fire pit, always watch your children and pets. Do not leave them unsupervised by the fire. Following the 3 feet, away rule is always a good measure.
  
  
• Be a Weather Watcher: The weather can change quickly. Know the direction of the wind before you light the fire. Keep your smartphone around to check any weather updates.
  
  
• Fire Prevention: From the change in weather to a hot burning flame, keeping the fire under control is essential. Prepare for emergencies every time you light a fire. Keep a bucket of water on hand, invest in a fire extinguisher, or purchase a fire blanket to cover the entire pit immediately.
  
  
• Extinguish Your Fire: Before heading indoors for the night, make sure the fire is completely out. Use a bucket of water, spray with the garden hose, or cover with dirt.

Roasting marshmallows or cooking hot dogs, fire pits provide hours of fun for you and your family. When you follow all the safety guidelines, you don't need to worry about the flames getting away from you. If you are looking for Nassau County homes for sale or Suffolk County homes for sale with a large backyard for a fire pit, contact us.