SERVPRO Tips: Summer Bonfire Safety

6/13/2021 (Permalink)

With the heat of the summer, please keep in mind that the sun and winds will have dried out a lot of the surrounding plants and bushes.  So, if you plan on a bonfire, follow these tips in order to prevent a property or brush fire.

• Rake your yard or bag your grass clippings before starting a fire.
• Remove yard waste and dead branches around your property.
• Follow your local laws and regulations pertaining to burning and open flames.
• Dampen the ground around your fire pit and under it as well if you have a free-standing pit.
• Place your fire pit on pavers or cement.
• Keep a hose nearby.
• Never throw trash into the fire
• Don’t ever leave a fire unattended.
• Make sure children and pets stay 3 feet away from the fire.
• Fully extinguish the flames with sand and a bucket of water when the evening is over.

Embers stay hot for hours when extinguished.  When the fun is over, walk through the yard to clean up chairs and garbage that could easily ignite.  Run water on the pit until you are confident the heat won’t pose a risk.  Be mindful that you don’t spray the fire with a strong jet of water.  Doing so may cause embers to shower the area and ignite your belongings.