Fire Pit Safety Tips

Use Caution When Playing With Fire, Even in the Backyard

 

It’s a great feeling to hang out with friends and family around a blazing fire in your backyard in New Hampshire, especially on chilly fall evenings — unless, of course, that fire blazes a little too much.

A fire pit can be a wonderful addition to your home, but it’s important to remember that all fires are potentially dangerous. So before you sit down to make s’mores, review the following fire pit safety tips to help you keep that fire in the pit and away from everything else:

 

Is it legal?

·        Before building or buying a fire pit, check the regulations in your area to learn about restrictions.

·        Your fire pit may be legal, but a fire might not always be. Monitor and follow community burn bans.

·        Be respectful. Nothing can extinguish the good vibes of a nice fire more quickly than police complaints from smoked-out neighbors.

What kind of pit do you want?

·        You can buy a fire pit or build one. If you choose the latter, there are plenty of resources online to help you design it. Don’t dig a hole just anywhere and throw some rocks down; put some thought into it and you’ll have a better, safer spot to enjoy.

·        If you want convenience, a propane model might be right for you. These types of fire pits produce less smoke and have an adjustable flame. 

Before your start building your fire:

·         First, ensure that the area under and around your fire pit is clear of flammable materials, and keep the pit itself at least 10 feet from any structures.

·         Before you start the fire, make sure you have a fire extinguisher or a garden hose handy.

 

Ready to build your fire? Here’s what to do:

·        Choose hard, seasoned woods. Sparks from softer woods like cedar can increase the danger of igniting something nearby.

·        Don’t use liquid fuels, even lighter fluid, to get your fire going. It’s also not a good idea to burn paper, cardboard, leaves, garbage, etc.

·       If you have a metal fire pit, don’t overload it and always use the included safety screen.

Put the fire out completely:

·        When you’re done, spread out the ashes and let them cool off for a bit. Then gently pour water or sand over them. Stick around for a little while to watch for flare-ups.

 

At Hunkins & Eaton Insurance Agency in Littleton and Lisbon, NH, we want you to have plenty of nice, warm nights — without getting burned. Here’s to making memories around the fire!

 

For additional safety tips and useful resources, please read our other blog posts, and connect with us on Facebook, Twitter and Google+. 

 

This article provided courtesy of Safeco Insurance.

How to Use a Fire Extinguisher

Knowing how to use a fire extinguisher properly is essential when attempting to control and put out a fire. If you are the first to encounter a fire, it’s important to remain calm and determine immediately whether you will attempt to control it yourself or evacuate the building and call 911. If you have any doubts about how to use a fire extinguisher, the best course of action is to evacuate and call 911.

If you feel prepared to put out the fire yourself, the first and second steps will be identifying the fire’s classification and determining if the fire extinguisher you have is capable of extinguishing it. It is crucial to not use an unlabeled or unqualified fire extinguisher. If you cannot identify the class of fire or type of fire extinguisher, evacuate the building and call 911.

Distinguished by the fuel source, fires have four classifications:

1. Class A – fires are fueled by wood, paper, trash, and most plastics. Fire extinguishers capable of extinguishing this class of fire are labeled with a green triangle and the letter A.
   
   
2. Class B – fires are fueled by combustible liquids such as kerosene, gasoline, or cooking oils. Fire extinguishers capable of extinguishing this type of fire are labeled with a red square and the letter B.
   
   
3. Class C – fires are fueled by electricity or electrical equipment. Fire extinguishers capable of extinguishing this type of fire are labeled with a blue circle and the letter C.
   
   
4. Class D – fires are fueled by combustible metals such as magnesium or sodium. Fire extinguishers capable of extinguishing this type of fire are labeled with a yellow star and the letter D.

Once you have correctly identified the fire’s classification and determined that you have the appropriate fire extinguisher, you can approach the task of putting out the fire. Outlined below, the simplest and most effective manner of using a fire extinguisher is the P.A.S.S. procedure:

1.      Pull the safety pin from the handle of the fire extinguisher.

2.      Aim the nozzle at the base of the fire. Stand about six feet away from the fire when aiming the nozzle.

3.      Squeeze the trigger mechanism firmly to dispense the fire suppression material from the extinguisher.

4.      Sweep the hose in a side-to-side fashion at the base of the fire until the extinguisher is empty.

Once the fire extinguisher is empty, evacuate the building and call 911.

It is essential to note that all fires are dangerous and if you have any doubts about the size or classification of the fire, the labeling of the fire extinguisher, or your confidence in using the extinguisher correctly, it’s not worth risking anyone’s life; always call 911 instead.

At Hunkins & Eaton, the safety of you and your loved ones is important to us. For additional safety tips and other valuable resources, please read our other blog posts and connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+.

Photo Credit: MarkBuckawicki (Own work) [CC0], via Wikimedia Commons