How to Extinguish a Fire Pit Safely?

How to Extinguish a Fire Pit Safely?

Fire safety is something you should always take seriously. Not only is it important when starting and maintaining a fire, but putting it out safely and thoroughly should also be a top priority.

The good news is that extinguishing a fire isn’t hard or time-consuming.  But there is a right and safe way to do it so that you never have any accidents or a fire that spreads unexpectedly through your garden.

Materials needed for putting out your fire pit

Being prepared is the key to maintaining safety with your fire pit.  Here is what you will need to have to hand to safely extinguish the fire in your fire pit:

• A metal shovel

• A hose pipe, a large watering can or a large bucket of water

• A metal bucket (to put the ashes into)

And that’s it.  It’s not a complicated process; you must be vigilant about it to maintain safety.

Let’s dive into the step-by-step process of how to extinguish a fire pit safely.

How to extinguish a fire pit safely

Step 1 – Let the fire burn down to ash naturally

Extinguishing your fire when it’s still burning strong is not a good idea. For one, it’s not easy, and second, the steam and smoke that will be released at full heat are incredibly dangerous. 

You want to let your fire burn down to ash naturally. 

If you’re worried about losing too much heat by not keeping the fire burning bright, don’t.  Even ashy embers will give you enough heat to enjoy long after the flames have gone.

The key here is to not overload your fire pit with fuel so that it burns too long.  The amount of fuel to use for the length of time you want the fire pit to burn will be a bit of trial and error in all reality.  It certainly won’t take long to get a feel for how many logs you need to perfectly time the fire burning down.

What we want is for there to be mostly ash left in the bottom of the fire pit.

Step 2 – Spread the ashes

Once the fire has gone out and it is mostly ash left in your fire pit, use a spade and spread the ashes out a little.  This speeds up the cooling process.

Step 3 – Slowly pour your water over

It’s important to be careful and take your time when pouring water over the ashes in your fire pit.  Steam will likely come off the ashes; you certainly don’t want that in your or anyone else’s face.  We like to use a hose to sprinkle and spray from a good distance.

Be sure to pour water over all the ashes, not just the ones that look hot or sizzle. Remember, do this very slowly; take your time to reduce the heat, and you will avoid possible fire pit damage due to extreme temperature fluctuations. Many fire pit manufacturers do not recommend extinguishing using water, so take it slowly and be careful.

Once the sizzling stops, you are ready to move on. 

Step 4 – Stir the ashes

Giving the ashes another stir with your shovel to ensure they are all well and truly wet is a great way to safeguard against any small embers you might have missed.

Step 5 – double-check the area around the fire pit

You also want to have a good look at the area around the fire pit to make sure there are no embers or hot ash that managed to blow out.  If there are, give them a good douse with water.

Step 6 – place the ashes in a metal bucket

Once you are happy that the ash is completely cooled, you’ll want to scoop them out of the fire pit and place them in a metal bucket.

Keep the ashes in a metal bucket for a couple of days to make well and truly sure that they are completely extinguished and aren’t going to accidentally set anything in your garden alight.

Step 7 – Dispose of ashes

Once you’ve left them in the bucket for a few days, you can safely dispose of them. You can even add them to your compost heap; they have incredible nutrients for your soil!

And there you have the simple 7 steps to extinguish your fire pit safely.

A quick note on Gas and Bioethanol Fire Pits

While putting out a gas or bioethanol fire pit is far less hassle—you just turn it off—it’s worth taking some safety precautions to prevent accidents.

Remember, fire is fire, which means it gives off heat.  If you have any rocks or decorations around your fire pit, it’s worth ensuring these have cooled down completely before leaving the fire pit so there are no accidents, or you don’t melt your fire pit cover.

Usually, any parts on a gas or bioethanol fire pit will cool quickly. You can check how hot everything is by hovering your hand above it to see how much heat it is giving off.

You want everything to be cool before moving a fire pit or putting your cover back on and leaving.

Staying safe while using your fire pit is a surefire way of ensuring you will enjoy it for many years.

Post Code Checker

Using a wood burner outside is legal; being a nuisance with an outdoor fire can cause problems with the neighbours and the local council. Here is our local council checker for their guidelines. https://www.firepit.co.uk/pages/post-code-checker 

This is currently for postcodes in England and Wales. It will soon expand to Scotland and Northern Ireland.