5 Hot Fire Pit Safety Tips

At Chantilly AllGreen Landscape Co., we love our fire pits! We love installing them and coming up with great designs for our clients. We always discuss safety with our clients as we install them too, because fire is not a toy, how ever much fun it is to roast marshmallows with it in the backyard. Also, having a professionally-designed fire pit can go a long way to eliminating some of the common safety hazards that come with portable, store-bought fire pits. Here are 5 safe design essentials we use when installing new fire pits:

1. Fire Pit Location

When we install fire pits, we follow all the building codes and fire safety rules. These safety rules ensure that sparks, heat and flames stay isolated away from your house, trees or other structures. Fire pits should be placed at least 10 feet away from any of these structures, but preferably 25 feet for maximum safety. Fire pits should never be built under covered porches or tree branches; fire pits must go out in the open, with plenty of space!

2. Fire Pits: Surrounding Materials

Placing a store-bought fire pit on your wooden deck (or on your lawn) is dangerous. This is why having a custom-built fire pit, constructed on and with non-flammable surroundings is far safer. Our creative fire pit design ideas use safe, sturdy, decorative brick, cement and stone work, for the base, fire pit and surrounding areas for a safe, sturdy and beautiful fire pit that you and your family can enjoy for years to come.

3. Fire Pit Size

The size and shape of your fire pit can vary depending on the safe space you have available. For safety reasons, we recommend designs that have an indentation for the fire that is at least 6 inches deep in the middle, with a minimum of 2 feet diameter all around. This should help keep embers and flames properly contained.

4. The Raised Fire Pit

Raised fire pits with protective stone or brick barriers around them can help protect small children from falling into flames. With the rise in popularity of fire pits, we hear more news reports of sad incidents like this, particularly with in-the-ground fire pits. Raised brick and stone fire pits remove some of this risk, but it’s always essential to have clear rules and teach children about fire safety, regardless of design. Never leave children unattended near a fire pit! AllGreen Landscape Co takes your family’s safety into consideration with each custom fire pit design, and we have a lot of fire pit design ideas that promote safety as well as fun.

5. Fire Pit Safety and Dousing Equipment

If you light a fire, it’s important that you know how to put it out. A fire pit left burning overnight can still be piping hot the next day, causing burns to anyone who touches it! So once the evening’s fun has ended, make sure to fully put out any fire before you leave the party for the evening. Also have a fire extinguisher nearby, as well as a first aid kit with burn supplies.

Contact AllGreen Landscape Co. today at (703) 992-8787 if you have any questions about your current fire pit safety, or would like our help in designing a beautiful and safe fire pit for your yard.