How To Keep Your Fall Bonfire Safe And Fun

10/22/2019 (Permalink)

Keep your bonfires safe and fun with these tips!

Fall is the time of year when the weather begins to cool off here in Middle Tennessee, and building a toasty bonfire in the backyard becomes a popular way to pass the time.  Bonfires take some of the chill out of the frosty air and give us opportunities to spend time with friends and family outdoors. The following tips can ensure a safe, fun evening while gathered around your bonfire:

• Your fire pit. You’ll probably be using some type of fire pit for building your fire in your backyard. Whether you will be using a built-in or portable model, be sure to select one that isn’t too large for the area. Your firepit should be at least 10 feet away from structures and combustible materials, and you will also want to make sure you have room for a seating area that is large enough for proper comfort and ventilation.
• Your weather. Check your area forecast before lighting your fire. You definitely want to avoid starting your bonfire during extremely windy conditions, since a strong breeze could blow sparks onto nearby surfaces or people.
• Starting your bonfire. Never use accelerants such as gasoline or lighter fluid to start or re-light your bonfire, since this practice could cause your fire to burn out of control. Use a lighter to light crumpled pieces of paper covered with small sticks as kindling to get your fire started, and then add larger sticks and eventually a log or two to keep it burning. Never throw fireworks, batteries or other combustible items into a burning fire, either. 
• Your bonfire control. Make sure you have a fire extinguisher, garden hose and water source nearby in case of an emergency. You can also choose to fill a bucket with sand since sand is a very effective alternative to water to help extinguish a fire.
• Your clothing. Be sure to wear non-flammable clothing when starting, sitting by, or extinguishing your bonfire, and wear hard-soled shoes instead of rubber sneakers or flip flops; leaping sparks could cause them to ignite. Be sure no one goes barefoot around your bonfire!
• Your kids and pets. Pets and children are likely to be attracted to your bonfire. Show your kids a safe path to walk that keeps them far away from the burning fire, and put glow-in-the-dark collars on your pets to easily track their movements. It might be even better to just keep them indoors. 
• Putting out your bonfire. As the evening winds down and the fire has burned out, use a shovel to spread out the ashes and let them cool down. Slowly pour water over the ashes and monitor them closely to be sure that no burning embers remain, and then place cooled ashes in a metal can designated for ash storage only.

Don’t forget to check to see whether your area has any rules in place regarding backyard bonfires. The last thing you want to do is start a fire during a burn ban! If you experience fire damage to your property, SERVPRO of Belle Meade/West Nashville is here and always ready to help. We are experts in water damage and mold remediation, too.