Things to Keep In Mind
- Check the Local Rules: Make sure that it is legal to have a burning fire pit in your yard. Call your local fire department for confirmation.
- Weather Conditions: Lighting up a fire pit would be difficult if it is windy. Even if you do manage to light it up, the wind can cause the fire to flare up. It is best to avoid starting a fire pit in windy conditions. Take the weather conditions into account before you plan to start a fire pit.
- Safety First: Fire can cause serious injuries and damage if you have not taken certain precautions. It is crucial that you have fire extinguishers or a bucket of sand or water to deal with emergencies.
- Assess the Area: Make sure that the area does not have a lot of dry leaves or plants around which can easily catch on fire. Also, make sure that it is set at a distance that is not too close to your home and is not obstructed by any overhead fixtures.
What Not To Burn
To start a fire pit that is safe, only approved fuels such as clean, seasoned firewood should be used. Using anything else can be highly flammable and at the same time, can release toxic fumes that can be harmful to your health:
- Keep your fire pit away from any kind of accelerant and gasoline or petroleum-based product.
- Avoid adding any plastics, rubbers or any food wrappers and containers to your fire pit. While they may light up quickly, they can emit toxic fumes which can be dangerous if inhaled and can also pollute the environment.
- Refrain from using any wood treated with chemicals and adhesives that would release toxic fumes.
How to Start a Fire in a Fire Pit
To
start a fire, gather all the materials that are required. Tinder and kindling
will help with the process of building the fire and the right kind of wood will
sustain it. Here’s what you’ll need:
- Fire Starters: Commercial fire starters can be easily lit with the help of a lighter or match.
- Tinder: Tinder is the initial ignitable material that will get your fire started as it starts to burn. It usually includes small and dry materials such as leaves, grass or tree barks. While you may use ready-to-use tinder, you can save yourself the cost by looking for these in your yard.
- Kindling: Kindling serves as the intermediate material that prevents the tinder from burning out and sustains the fire. This allows the flame to grow to the point where it can ignite the logs. Dry sticks and twigs are ideal for this.
- Firewood: Choosing the right firewood is the key to the best results. Hardwoods like ash, birch, maple and oak are preferable to softwoods like pine, spruce and fir. Whatever the type, make sure that they are dried.
Using
seasoned wood is a good idea as it is specifically dried to reduce the moisture
content.
Building the Fire
To make a fire in the fire pit, it is crucial to know how
to place the wood correctly so that it ignites effectively. Moreover, if
you don’t set up the logs correctly, it can collapse and send sparks flying out
of the pit. You can easily start a fire in your pit by arranging the wood in
one of these three ways:
- Cross Structure: Place the tinder at the center of the fire pit. Over it, arrange the kindle in a crisscross pattern. Finally, place the firewood in a similar fashion.
- Teepee Structure: Make a pile with the tinder at the center of the pit. Place the kindle around the tinder, vertically and at an angle so that all ends of the kindle meet at the top. It should look like a pyramid. Do the same with the firewood.
- Log-Cabin Structure: As with the above, place the tinder at the center and the tinder in a teepee structure. Place two firewood logs on either side of the teepee. Repeat this step, but now, on the other opposite end. Make sure that when you place the second set of logs, its ends overlap the logs placed perpendicular to it. Repeat these steps a couple more times.
Ignite the Tinder and Maintaining the Flame
After
you have arranged the tinder, kindle and firewood in a proper structure, it’s
time to start the fire by lighting it up. Here’s the best way to start the fire:
- Use a lighter or a match and set fire to the tinder and make sure that the flames ignite the kindles as well. If the tinder is burning too quickly without actually igniting the kindle first, add more tinder.
- After the flame is lit, you can now place the firewood in the fire pit depending on the method you prefer.
- The logs should be quick enough to catch fire. If the firewood is taking a lot of time to light, add more tinder and kindles.
- To sustain the fire for long hours, adding more firewood in regular intervals is crucial, especially if you notice that the firewood has charred entirely.
Stack
the wood in such a way that there should be some space around the wood for
oxygen to assist the burning. However, the wood should be close enough to the fire
for it to burn and not just smolder.
Always keep a vigilant eye on
a burning fire. Keep at least an arm length of distance as you make adjustments
to the pit.
Other Fire Pits
While
the process of building the fire remains the same for any kind of fire pit, the
way to get the fire started would slightly differ. Here’s how:
- Gas fire pits work differently from lighting up a traditional fire pit. They use natural gas or propane as fuel, eliminating the use of fire starters. Turn on the gas valve and light a match to start the flames.
- Alternatively, you may also have a push-button ignition system. A control knob will allow you to open the gas valves, while the push-button will be pressed simultaneously to create a spark.
- Electronic ignitions, on the other hand, work on built-in batteries and can be remote-controlled.
Refer to the manufacturer’s
manual for any specific instructions.
How to Put Out the Fire Pit
Now
that you have easily started a fire in a fire pit, it’s important to know how to put out
the wood fire you have started after you are done using the pit.
Usually, it is best to let the fire die out on its own, but if you need to put
it out before it burns out, here’s what you should do:
- For a wood-burning fire pit, use a hose or a few buckets of water to put out the fire.
- Avoid pouring water into a gas fire pit. They can be extinguished by cutting the fuel supply or turning the unit off.
If you want
to use the fire pit again soon, it is best not to soak it with water. Keep
sprinkling the pit with water to slowly douse the flames. Do this until no
heat, sound, or flames come out of the pit.
To be sure, use a long rod to stir the ashes and embers so that any unlit remnants can be identified and put off.
Cleaning the Fire Pit
Once
you have made sure that the fire is completely extinguished and that the fire
pit is cold, the next step is clean up. This would include ashes, coals
and any unburnt wood pieces. Here’s how to clean your fire pit after use:
- Use a shovel to scoop any pieces and a sharp tool to scrape off ashes. Dispose of all the collected wood and ashes in a metal bucket.
- To clean your fire pit, you may simply wipe the fire pit bowl with a light cloth, damp with a mild soap and water solution.
- For gas fire pits, turn off the gas supply and use a damp cloth to wipe the interiors.
- Make sure that the inside of the fire pits are completely dry and free of moisture before storing them away.
- Store your fire pits in a dry and sheltered location. If they are in a fixed position, cover them up with a weatherproof and durable fabric material.