Backyard Bonfire Safety

2/21/2024 (Permalink)

With cooler nights here, (and fewer mosquitoes) we may want to plan an outdoor evening on the deck or in the back yard with family or guests, gathering around firepits and clay chimineas.

Bonfires especially can be a great activity for the whole family, but it’s important to keep in mind the dangers of open flames and how to have a bonfire responsibly!

• You should always either use a fire pit purchased from the store or dig your own – Fire pits are a crucial part of keeping a bonfire contained where you want it to be and not have it spread. Be sure to also clear away brush from around the fire pit as well.
• Make sure your fire is a safe distance from houses, trees, powerlines, or anything that can be affected by the heat.
• Keep a bucket of water or a garden hose close by – accidents happen and being able to address them immediately is how to prevent things from getting worse.
• Use newspaper and small kindling to get the fire started, NOT gasoline or other accelerants.
• Never spray aerosols or toss canisters into the fire – The heat can make these containers explode and throw burning embers everywhere.
• Limit your fire size – It’s tempting to make a big fire, but you should make sure to keep your fire to a manageable size, no bigger than a few feet around.
• When you’re done, be sure that the fire is completely extinguished – stir the ashes around and use more water than you think you need to ensure there is nothing still smoldering. Embers can stay smoldering, hidden under a bed of ashes for hours and can be relit by the wind unexpectedly.

Bonfires are a lot of fun and a great way to spend time outside, just be sure that you are taking the proper precautions to do so safely.