Fire Pit Safety: Year-Round Enjoyment

Your backyard should be a place you can enjoy year round. Transform your outdoor space by creating a relaxing, entertaining space for friends, no matter the season. Having a fire pit or fire table in your backyard can provide many options for spontaneous gatherings and holiday celebrations. Having a campfire in your backyard offers a wealth of enjoyment for all seasons.

Enhance Your Outdoors With Fire Pit Safety

Fire pits create a small space of wilderness right in your backyard. It’s instant ambiance for relaxing and socializing. In Calgary’s cooler months they add warmth and light to the surrounding space. This can be a great eye-catching feature for any major backyard project.

When you consider the design of your backyard, you should consider how you plan to use your fire pit. What fuel sources do you have easy access to? Where do you plan to put it? What’s the size and shape of your fire pit or fire table? Having a fire pit safety plan can help you determine what needs to be put in place. Ensure you adhere to any local laws and guidelines governing the use of open fires. These regulations are important, as they help prevent accidental fires, injuries, and environmental hazards. 

Once you’ve determined these factors, you can put safety practices to good use when designing and using your backyard space. Here are some of the best ways to avoid hazards with your outdoor fire pit: 

Pay Attention To Fire Bans

During dry, hot summers, your district may impose a fire ban to prevent wildfires. To prevent this risk, make sure to check for any fire bans before using your fire pit. 

Follow Local Fire Pit Regulations

Look up your local municipal regulations before building a fire pit in your backyard. In some cases, you may need a permit before building your fire pit or table. Ignoring could lead to fines if your fire pit doesn’t meet those regulations.

Keep Track of Weather

If it’s windy or has been extremely dry within the last few weeks, you should be aware of those conditions. Even if there isn’t a fire ban, your fire could still be a potential risk. 

Burn Clean, Dry Wood

Smoke from your fire pit or table will spread beyond your backyard. Some districts will have regulations about the type of firewood you can burn. Burning toxic, man-made materials such as plastic, garbage bags, and pest-treated lumber can create toxic fumes and is often illegal.

Fully Extinguish Before Leaving

When setting up your fireplace for the evening, ensure you have the equipment needed to extinguish the fire after using it fully. You should have an easy-to-access source of water nearby and a fire extinguisher to fully put out your fire, including any red embers, before leaving it unattended. 

Most importantly, educate your family members and friends about caring for the fire pit. By letting people know how to move safely around the fire, where equipment is located, and all available exits, you can help keep them safer year-round and fully enjoy your fire pit setup.  

Tips For Enjoying Your Fire Pit Every Year

Fire pits can create an unbeatable atmosphere when done right – they’re simple to care for, easy to use, and can help you make the most out of your evenings with loved ones. They’re great for lighting, ambiance, and warmth, and with a fire table, can be used for cooking and dinner parties. You can host holiday gatherings, plan hangouts during summer nights, and cozy up to the fire during fall and spring. 

However, the best way to keep your fire pit performing year after year is by caring for it. When you’re adding these cozy additions to your backyard, you should take care of it by following these tips: 

• Regularly Clean Your Fire Pit: After every use, you should extinguish, remove any ashes. Cleaning your fire pit often prolongs life. You should scrub any grime off stone and metal surfaces if you have a wood-burning or metal-frame fire pit. For gas-burning fire tables, make sure to clean the burners and any cooking surfaces to prevent the onset of rust. 
• Use The Right Fuel: Whether you have a fire pit or a fire table, using the right fuel can make your setup last longer. Avoid burning plastic objects, products containing glue or resin, and any treated objects, as they can not only create nasty smells but damage the integrity of your fire pit. For fire tables, always use fuel recommended by the manufacturer, and avoid placing any burnable objects in the fires. 
• Perform Fire Table Inspections: For fire tables, fuel lines can degrade over time, and ventilation systems can become clogged with ash and debris. Inspecting these aspects can help ensure that every part of your fire table functions properly and can help prevent the onset of accidents. 
• Protect Your Fire Pit: When not in use, you should cover it with a weatherproof cover so it won’t be exposed to moisture. Over time, debris, dirt, and water can damage the frame and any fuel lines, causing your fire pit to malfunction. By keeping it covered, you can enjoy your fire pit longer. 

Shop For Your Dream Fire Pit At Backyard Canada

At Backyard Canada, we host a wide selection of quality backyard fire pits and fire tables and help people design the backyard of their dreams. When you want a fire table for outdoor cooking or a specially designed fire pit for cold winter evenings, we provide selections that are guaranteed to last. For more information about our products, call us at 587-855-9938 or fill out our contact form to get started with your order.