4 Backyard Fire Safety Tips for Your Home

Backyard fire pits are a great way to bring family and friends together. Making s’mores, foil dinners, or just watching the flickering flames while sharing stories can produce some of the best memories. That’s why it’s important to follow safety tips for backyard fires, so that these wonderful gatherings can keep everyone healthy and happy.

Here are some tips for keeping your outdoor fire celebrations safe.

1. Safe fire pit set up

   When choosing a location to set up the fire pit in your backyard, pick a spot that is in an open space, away from brush, leaf piles, or overhanging tree limbs. This will help mitigate the risk of sparks flying and catching fire on these flammable sources. The City of Seattle recommends a 10-foot radius from structures or brush.
   
   Check in with any relevant homeowners associations, so that your fire follows appropriate codes. You may also need to let your homeowner’s insurance know if you have a backyard fire pit constructed in your yard. That way, if anything bad happens, your insurance can make sure it’s covered.
   
   Also make sure that the location you choose for your fire is not directly over any critical underground cabling, which the heat from the fire could melt.
   
   

2. Be prepared to extinguish the fire

   Wherever you have your fire, keep a bucket, hose, or fire extinguisher with a 4-A rating nearby so you can immediately address any sparks that fly and may develop into a flame.
   
   

3. Keep proper distance and educate children

   Keep pets and children 3 feet away from the fire, or put your pet in the house or on a leash when there’s a backyard fire, as they may get excited by all the people (or food!) gathered.
   
   Teach young children appropriate fire skills, especially if they’re getting in on the fun of roasting s’mores. If they’re using a roasting stick, make sure it’s a long-handled one, and that they know not to wave it or touch the metal. Always have an adult nearby to supervise this process.
   
   

4. Select appropriate wood

   The appropriate wood or kindling goes a long way to protecting from dangerous fires, as well as dangerous pollutants emitted by the smoke. The Environmental Protection Agency recommends burning clean, dry wood, but not green wood. Use newspaper, kindling, or organic fire starters, but never use kerosene, gasoline, or charcoal. Don’t burn plastic, foam, magazines, household trash, or other items that can release harmful, toxic chemicals into the air.

Questions about home insurance? Contact a Sea Mountain Homeowners Insurance Specialist today!