Keep it safe around the fire

What to burn

If you’re going no farther than your backyard, Heinz says you should use seasoned (dried) hardwoods such as oak, beech or birch. But if you’ll be camping, wood from downed trees that have dried out makes good campfire material. The NASF website SmokeyBear.com recommends three types:
Tinder: Small twigs and dry leaves, grass, and needles to use at the base of your pit.
Kindling: Sticks smaller than an inch around to help a fire get going.
Fuel: Larger pieces of dry wood to keep the fire burning.

Fire needs oxygen to burn. Stacking larger pieces of wood in the shape of a teepee or log cabin increases airflow and minimizes smoke.

What not to burn

Trash belongs in a proper receptacle – not in your fire pit, Forman-Cook said. Burning garbage, along with construction materials or other non-wood products, can cause toxic fumes and create more smoke, Heinz added.

Never use gasoline or other accelerants. “You can’t control those,” Heinz said. “They can release toxic fumes or start an explosion.” The vapors from accelerants are flammable and can cause a fire to “jump around.”

Also, make sure the wood you choose isn’t wider than the size of your pit. This will help keep your fire from spreading outside your designated area.

Burning recently cut live trees, or “green wood,” which have high moisture content, is sure to annoy your guests and neighbors because it produces much more smoke than dry, seasoned wood.

Ready, set … light

Now that you’re ready to get a fire going, a fire starter kit is your safest bet. You can visit your local outdoors or sporting goods store – or go online – to purchase one. Kits often include waterproof matches, some type of kindling and a fire starter stick that will light in any conditions.

Want friends and family members to be safe around your fire? Arrange the chairs you’ll need before starting the fire. The one place you don’t want anyone to sit is on the bricks or large rocks around your fire pit or campfire.

“Those rocks get extremely hot, and they stay extremely hot,” Forman-Cook said.

Make sure older adults are seated upwind to avoid them having to move frequently, said Heinz, who said pets should stay a safe distance away and children must be monitored closely.

Another key requirement with any fire, Heinz said, is having a person in charge of monitoring the area who is able to act quickly if a problem arises. This person should be a responsible, sober adult.

“If you’re that person in charge, make sure you’re on top of it,” he said. “People forget that alcohol is flammable, and it impairs coordination, judgment and reflexes. That’s when bad things can happen.”

Extinguish the fire

When it’s time to put out your fire, start with the bucket of water or hose – or shovels of sand and dirt – you already placed next to the pit. Then, use your shovel to separate the remaining wood and smoldering embers.

“Don’t just assume, ‘I dumped water on it, so it’s good,’” Heinz said.

Next, stir the fire remnants around to make sure all embers are extinguished. Then, apply more water, dirt or sand. A fire shouldn’t be allowed to burn out on its own. Smoldering embers can reignite or spread and cause a larger fire.

“We want to prevent an escaped ember,” Forman-Cook said.