As these final summer nights begin to cool down, accidents with backyard fire pits seem to be heating up. Although gathering with friends and family around a fire is a great way to spend an evening, if not handled correctly, it could pose serious threats to your safety.
At Blais Insurance, we want you to be better informed about
potential hazards before igniting a danger to yourself or others. For all types of fire pits, we offer
you these vital tips to ensure that your summer nights are spent with less
worry and more fun:
Tip 1: Consult with building officials, local codes and
certified professionals before installing a fire bowl no matter what it uses
for fuel — wood, natural gas, propane or gel – as codes vary from city to city.
Tip 2: Make sure the area right around your bowl is clear
of branches or foliage that could catch fire. A good rule of thumb would be to
allow at least six to ten feet of cleared space from the bowl. Make sure there is nothing flammable
around the area, such as overhead tree branches.
Tip 3: Most fire bowls made for burning real wood come
with a mesh cover. Once your fire is lit and has burned down a little, be sure
to use the screen. This keeps sparks from floating out of the bowl and any
flammable debris from blowing into the bowl.
Tip 4: Never leave a fire unattended - when the people go
in, the fire goes out! Resist putting your fire out by dumping a bucket of
water on it. This will just raise a cloud of steam, send ashes flying and make
it harder to light the fire the next time.
Tip 5: Even though you'd like to spend more time relaxing
and less time building the fire, never use accelerants like charcoal lighter
fluid or gasoline to light the fire.
Tip 6: Take wind into consideration when deciding
placement and type of fire bowl. Burning embers can get blown out of the fire
bowl, so choose a protected area if you are going with wood as your fuel.
Tip 7: Remember that the metal in fire bowls gets hot. Let
it cool thoroughly before attempting to handle the cover or moving the bowl.
Tip 8: Make sure what you use for your pit is approved for
its intended use. The wrong material could explode or shatter.
Tip 9: Keep a bucket of sand, dirt or cold ashes handy,
along with a shovel or metal rake. Move partially burned logs away from each
other so they begin to cool and use the sand or dirt to cool and smother the
coals.
Tip 10: Keep a fire extinguisher close at-hand. It should be a dry-chemical
extinguisher with a Class B and C or multipurpose rating, such as the one you
have in your kitchen. Pull the pin, aim at the base of the fire, and squeeze
the trigger slowly.
Remember that at Blais Insurance your safety is our biggest
concern. Be sure to call us today to learn more about how to protect your home
from any potential dangers and discuss your current policy at 401.725.0070.
Information from this
article was provided by: Top
10 Tips for Using Fire Bowls and Fire
Pit Safety.
