How You Can Start Fire in a Fire Pit Safely

After a long day at work, nothing beats curling up with a cup of hot cocoa and a good book. A terrific way to unwind, spend time with friends and make nice memories.

Before you can kick back and relax, there’s one more thing you need to do…

If you’re going to spend the night in the woods, you’ll need to know how to create and maintain a fire.

It’s not as difficult as you would believe to master the skill of starting a fire. Indeed, after reading this essay, we are convinced that you will not require lighter fluid or combustible substances in order to ignite your fires.

Fire Pit Safety

Prior to lighting your fire, make sure that your primary concern is maintaining your sense of security. When it comes to fire pit safety, it’s imperative that you follow the best practices to avoid unnecessary harm.

Here are a few pointers for keeping your fire pit secure:

• Start your fire on an even surface to avoid fire escaping.
• Place your fire pit at least 10 feet from any tree, home, fence, or structure.
• Avoid building a fire in windy conditions.
• Maintain a proper distance and keep a close eye on children and pets.
• Don’t use propellants or any other dangerous, toxic products.
• Always monitor your fire no matter how big the flame is.

Check out Nationwide’s comprehensive list of fire pit safety precautions for more information.

Are you looking forward to the soothing sounds of crackling firewood as you drift off to sleep? Let’s get this party started!

The 4 Steps to Start a Fire in a Fire Pit

1. Preparation

Once you’ve found a safe place for your fire, it’s time to acquire the necessary supplies. Do not be alarmed; the list is short and easy to locate.

Everything you need to start a fire can be found here:

Fire Starter

Many different types of fire starters are available for you to select from. Kitchen lighters and matches are the most prevalent, and while they perform the job, they are cumbersome.

A butane flame lighter or an electric arc can also be used. While most people don’t have a supply of them laying around, they are a lot more efficient way to get a fire going in a fire pit and can be had for a reasonable price.

Tinder

You’ll ignite your fire with tinder. Leaves, pine cones, newspaper, or tree bark can all be used as tinder for making fires. You can use it to ignite your fire if it’s dry and non-toxic.

We like to utilize this list of handmade fire starters by Cool of the Wild when we start a fire in a fire pit. It’s possible to ignite a fire using a variety of handmade tinders.

Kindling

In order to start your fire going, you’ll need some dry sticks like these.

Softwoods like pine, cedar, poplar, and spruce tend to be the most effective when it comes to sticks and twigs.

Firewood

In order to sustain a fire all night long, logs are essential.

Maple, oak, ash, and birch are among the best hardwoods to use for fuel, as are pine and fir. Before utilizing, be certain that they have been thoroughly seasoned and stacked.

Start your perfect fire now that you have all the supplies you need.

2. Start Your Fire

Start a fire in a fire pit without the use of lighter fluid or other dangerous chemicals.

Here are the steps for lighting a fire in a fire pit:

1. First, put your tinder in a pile in the middle of the bottom of your fire pit. This pile should usually be about the size of your hand.
2. Next, get your kindling and put it on top of your tinder at a 35-degree angle so it looks like a pyramid or teepee. Make sure that the pieces of your kindling structure are close enough together but still have enough space between them to let air flow.
3. Then, use your fire starter to light the pile of tinder. When the kindling starts to burn, it’s time to put the firewood in place.
4. The last step is to start putting your dry wood in the fire pit. The shape of your firewood should be the same as the shape of your kindling, either a pyramid or a teepee. Keep the firewood close enough together so that the fire stays focused, but leave small gaps to let as much air in as possible.

3. Maintain the Flame

Keeping the fire going in your fire pit is important if you want the flame to stay strong all night.

If your firewood won’t catch fire or the flame is going out, try adding more tinder and kindling.

Look at the state of your firewood as well. If the logs are all black and falling apart or if the flame is going out, add more firewood.

Remember to always keep an eye on your fire, add more dry tinder, kindling, or logs as needed, and don’t put out the flame by putting too much on it.

4. Put out a Fire in a Fire Pit

After starting and keeping a fire in your fire pit, the party is winding down, and you’re ready to call it a night. Now is a safe time to put out the fire.

Here are some steps that will help you put out a fire in a fire pit:

Get a hose or a bucket of water and sprinkle it slowly on the fire. Make sure you don’t dump or pour the water, which could hurt your fire pit.

Once you are done throwing water on the fire and it has died down to embers, take a shovel and move the ash and embers around until you no longer hear any hissing.

Lastly, gently touch the ash. If it feels cool, you can throw it away in the right way.

Keys to Starting a Fire in A Fire Pit 

A fire pit is a great place to start a fire if you follow the proper safety precautions before, during, and after the fire. In the United States, about 1 million fires are put out annually, the majority of which occur in private residences (Source: National Fire Protection Association).

To avoid more serious mishaps and injuries, take additional care when setting up a fire pit in your yard.

Even though fires can pose a major threat, being prepared will help you avoid them as well as respond promptly in the event of a blaze.

In a tiny fire pit situation, having a nearby water source will be really beneficial. If the fire gets out of control, call the fire department right away. In order to put out a large fire, you and other people may be put in danger.

To ensure the safety of your family and friends, keep these safety considerations in mind when using a fire pit at an outdoor event to roast marshmallows and keep warm for long evenings.