Enjoy Your Fire Pit Safely

5/21/2021 (Permalink)

Fire pits are great fun! Keep it that way and avoid fire damage by following these fire safety tips from SERVPRO of Glastonbury/Wethersfield.

Who doesn’t love sitting with family and friends around a crackling fire in a backyard fire pit as the evening grows dark and a happy gathering goes on? There’s something magical about the good company, the dancing flames, the smoke that gets in your eyes … oh, wait, where were we?

We at SERVPRO of Glastonbury/Wethersfield love a good time around the fire pit as much as anyone, but because we’re in the fire damage remediation business, we also know how easily a seemingly harmless fire pit can cause a dangerous fire—resulting in damage to your house and property.

We recommend following these simple but important tips to protect your home—and more importantly, your family, pets, friends and yourself—from a sudden fire.

Give It Room

Do you know how far a fire pit should be from any structures or flammable objects, such as trees and bushes? The answer is 10 feet. Make sure you don’t put the pit on grass or a wood deck. And obviously, the fire pit must be located outside, not in a porch.

Use the Right Fuel

For a wood-burning fire pit, always burn dry, seasoned (at least six months old) wood. Choose logs that are no longer than three-quarters of the pit’s diameter—that will keep sparks from flying. Don’t overload the fire pit, either—you don’t want burning wood to fall out!

If you have a gas fire pit, keep the vents clear to prevent smoky flare-ups.

Use matches or an automatic lighter to get the fire started. Lighter fluid, gasoline and kerosene have no place near a fire pit.

Extinguish a Fire Quickly

If the flames get out of control, you can use water, sand or a fire extinguisher to quickly put out the fire. (If you have a gas or propane fire pit, shut off the fuel supply before trying to extinguish the flames.)

One of the easiest ways of putting the fire out is to use a garden hose to send a gentle spray of water onto the fire pit. (Make sure your metal or ceramic fire pit can withstand getting wet without cracking.)

Another safe way to extinguish the fire is to spread dry sand on the flames to smother them.

If you’re using a fire extinguisher, make sure it’s a Class B, C or multipurpose dry-chemical device. (Note that most portable fire extinguishers only reach 6 to 10 feet and last for 8 to 10 seconds.)

Use the PASS procedure:

Pull the pin
Aim at the base of the fire
Squeeze the trigger slowly
Sweep the nozzle from side to side

When to Call for Help

If fire spreads escapes the fire pit or the flames surge higher than your head (or six feet), or you can’t reach the propane tank or natural-gas valve, it’s time to evacuate the area and call 911.

We’re Here for You

The team at SERVPRO of Glastonbury/Wethersfield has specialized training and experience in fire restoration services, natural disaster and storm damage cleanup, water damage remediation and chemical cleanup. Call SERVPRO of Glastonbury/Wethersfield (860.633.8791) any time.

When you have suffered a fire or other disaster at your home or business, call SERVPRO of Glastonbury/Wethersfield today at 860.633.8791

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SERVPRO publishes educational articles on how to protect your home or business from disasters and how to deal with mold, fire, water, sewage, storm and other damage.

SERVPRO of Glastonbury/Wethersfield
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