It’s winter, so it’s time to sit around the fire. Here’s a few tips to help you set up a fire pit in your backyard safely and legally.

Playing safely with fire falls into 3 main categories.

  1. Common sense
  2. Legalities
  3. Enhancing the experience

There is some crossover between them because, well, common sense isn’t always that common.

Common sense

  1. Clear the Area. You want to keep the fire IN the pit, so ensure the area around the fire pit is clear of flammable materials like dry leaves, grass, and overhanging branches.
  2. Wind Direction and Strength. Choose a spot that is sheltered from the wind to prevent embers from blowing into your wood pile, a nearby park, or your house. Here’s some great weather apps.
  3. Supervision. Never leave a fire unattended. Ensure there is always someone responsible for monitoring the fire. A situation will be small if caught early – sometimes it can be solved by pouring beer on it.
  4. Emergency Management. A metal grate or mesh cover is good for controlling sparks and embers. Keep a bucket of water, sand, or a fire extinguisher nearby for emergencies.
  5. Extinguishing the Fire. Completely extinguish the fire before leaving the area. Use water or sand to ensure no embers are left smouldering.
  6. Kids. Kids are natural fire bugs and extremely flammable. Keep an eye on them. They will want to burn EVERYTHING in sight. Nothing ruins a party like a can of baked beans on the fire when nobody is looking.

Legal Requirements

  1. Local Council Approval. Different councils have varying rules about the use of backyard fire pits. Usually if it’s for cooking or entertainment purposes, and there are no fire bans, you are good to go.The definition of ‘entertainment’ may differ from person to person. Obviously don’t use it as an opportunity to burn all your green waste, carboard boxes and old furniture. Just use good hardwood. It will smell better.
  2. Fire Restrictions. Always check the current fire danger rating and adhere to any fire bans. If it hasn’t rained in ages, everything is going to dry as!
  3. Proximity to Structures. Your fire pit must be a safe distance from buildings, fences, and other structures. Verify the required distance with your local council. This can get complicated, but for open firepits, the further from your house the better.And, know which way the wind is blowing. We get a lot of westerlies in Brisbane in winter, but summer is predominantly SE. Find an app.
  4. Fire Pit Type. Clearly, Ember Industries firepits are the best, however, there are two main types – open firepit and chiminea. The chiminea, as the name suggests, is a short chimney. This can be good if you need to lift the smoke above a roof line or away from guests. Then you just need to consider if you want to cook with fire. In both cases, we’ve got you covered.

Enhancing the Experience

  1. Know the weather. You may have noticed this was previously mentioned. If you know how strong and where the wind is coming from, you can position your firepit and seating in the right place. Smoking out your neighbours is the fastest way to get it shut down.

    Look for an app called Seabreeze. It’s really simple to use and you’ll know at a glance if a BBQ is a good idea.

  2. Clear an area. Create an area with gravel or a sheet of metal if you don’t want to kill your grass.
  3. Keep it clean. Clear out the ash after each use to maintain the airflow.
  4. Keep it hot. If you let a fire cool down, the next log you throw on will smoke and you’ll look like an amateur.Pro Trick. Place your firewood beside the fire for a few minutes so it can heat up before you throw it on. It will light faster and smoke less.