Fire pit safety for outdoor summer parties

July 13, 2009

One of the best things to do in the summer when the sun goes down is to gather around the fire pit and watch it light up the night sky.

However, it's important to be safe when operating a pit in one's backyard. First, be sure the fire pit is not near any low-hanging branches or bushes. A loose ember from the flame may cause an unwanted fire. As a precaution, keep a small fire extinguisher nearby just in case.

For your guests, place the lawn chairs in a circle around the fire, but not too close. While a little heat is nice, you don't want people to feel like they are being burned.

Also take into account the weather that evening. If it's slightly windy, be sure to line the chairs away from where the wind is blowing, so that your attendees don't get hit with the smoke.

Avoid placing the fire pit on the grass - dirt or a brick patio is your best options.

Finally, place a table nearby with either snacks or ingredients to make s'mores. If it gets too dark out to see, consider placing glow sticks or necklaces around the food items so that guests can have easy access to them.