Use These Precautions to Keep Backyard Fires Contained | SERVPRO® of New Center/Highland Park

Sitting by the fire in your own backyard is a great way to spend a warm summer evening with your family. You can spend this priceless time with your family by telling scary stories, eating hot dogs or making s’mores.

We use backyard fires and campsites to stay warm, prepare meals, control bugs or as a way to get rid of debris, but even the most contained fires carry their own set of hazards. According to the National Park Service, humans are responsible for starting 85% of wildfires..

In Michigan, firefighters respond to around 12,000 wildfires every year. Most of these fires are caused by the burning of yard debris and lawn clippings. You’ll notice most wildfires start during dry seasons, such as the spring.

Of course, you can still burn your debris, light up your tiki torches, toast your marshmallows and barbecue your burgers if local laws allow you to. As long as you keep a few safety precautions in mind every time you burn, you can still relax by your backyard fire and reduce the spread of flames.

Recreational Fire Hazards

All open flames can be hazardous, but campfires, grills, fire pits and fireworks are some of the most prevalent ways outdoor flames are spread. Approximately 8,800 house fires are started by grills each year, usually due to improper usage by their owners. Before using your grill, be sure to check the propane tanks and gas lines that fuel it, and never leave food cooking unsupervised.

When you’re constructing a campfire, build it in a safe spot away from any forestry or buildings, and only use a match or a lighter to start your fire. Once your campfire is ready, only use firewood as a burning source, and always keep an eye on it even after you’re done toasting marshmallows.

Fire pits are a simple way to create a campfire feel in your own backyard, but you should still take the same precautions with this equipment as you would with a normal campfire. If you’re able to move your fire pit, never place it on a wood deck or near any overhangs.

Fire pits may seem like an easy way to eliminate construction or household trash, but you should be sure to only burn approved firewood.

Other Outdoor Fire Hazards

Even though they can be hazardous, fire and flammable substances can still be put to good use. If you live in an area where there is a lot of leaf accumulation in the fall and you don’t have a pickup or disposal option, burning your leaves may be the most efficient way to tidy up your yard.

Before beginning to burn anything, check that you have the green light from local authorities to get rid of your debris, to begin with. Understand your area’s burn bans, and if necessary, apply for a permit. In Highland Park, you are allowed to burn as you please as long as you have a permit to do so.

Eliminating dead debris can be a beneficial way to safeguard your home from wildfires, as well as intentional landscaping to slow fires before they reach your property. Knowing what is safe to burn and following fire prevention guidelines can help keep any fire contained.

We all use a shed or garage to hold materials like gas to power our yard tools and cars, but inappropriate storage can have disastrous results. Only store gas in a gasoline-safe container, and locate your container where kids can’t reach it.

You should also only be using gas for its intended purposes, so when you can’t get those flames lit, you shouldn’t turn to your gas container.

Before starting any fires outdoors, be aware of local regulations and our current weather forecast. If conditions are dry or if winds are blowing, skip the campfire and toast marshmallows on a better day.

If an outdoor fire gets out of hand and your home is impacted, call our repair experts at SERVPRO. Our team can inspect the damage and work closely with you to come up with a restoration plan to restore your home as quickly as possible.

Burn safely outdoors. And save some chocolate for us! If you have experienced fire or smoke damage, contact us today to get restoration started faster.