Outdoor Bon Fire Safety for Southern Maryland

10/4/2021 (Permalink)

Bon Fire Season

This time of year in St. Mary's and Calvert county we are starting to experience cool fall weather that many in our area love! These dropping temperatures are brining out an outdoor activity that is loved by most...Bon Fires! They are a great way to sit back, relax, and enjoy some time with family and friends. While bon fires are fun to be around they can also be extremely hazards and pose a threat to your home. Here are some tips to keep you and your home safe while enjoying a fire.  

First is to have the right location. Never have an fire with overhead structure such as roofing from your home or overhang from tree branches . Keep your fire pit at least 15-20 feet  from any structure. It is important to make sure you rake away any dead leaves and twigs from your fire pit. Also make sure your fire pit is lined with a barrier such as rocks. 

Second is to check the wind. You don't want to have a fire on a windy day due to the fact it can blow embers and sparks towards flammable material such as the woods (Dry leaves and sticks) or your home which can result unintentional fires. When you have a good wind advise your guest and family to sit upwind of the fire so they don't have smoke blowing on them.  

Third, make sure you have a way to extinguish the fire. It would be good to have a bucket of water or even a fire extinguisher nearby so if something happens you are prepared. Lastly, never leave the fire unattended and make sure somebody is there to keep an eye on it.

We here at SERVPRO of St. Mary's and Calvert hope these tips will be useful for you this fall season. If you have any questions about fire safety give your local fire department a call and they will be glad to help.