EDITORIAL: Fire pits add danger to backyard

April 24-- Apr. 24--Pause for a moment to give thanks no one was killed; no one was injured seriously.

Now take another few moments to consider the dangers of America's hottest outdoor design feature: the backyard fire pit.

Early Tuesday, a family sleeping in its North Canton home escaped harm when neighbors alerted them to fire on their property -- a blaze caused when an unattended fire in the homeowners' pit had reignited and quickly engulfed a shed and detached garage nearby.

According to the North Canton Fire Department, the fire then reached the back wall of the house and continued spreading.

Damage was estimated at about $150,000, with the house declared a total loss.

One firefighter sustained minor injuries but did not need medical attention, the department said.

Fire pits are becoming nearly ubiquitous in backyards across our area and the country. Various media have cited an American Society of Landscape Architects ranking of outdoor design elements as listing fire features as today's most popular, trending ahead of outdoor lighting and wireless connectivity.

With that popularity, however, comes an increase in accidents and injuries -- mainly burns from direct contact with pits, but also from secondary fires caused by placing the pits too close to other structures or leaving embers unattended.

Injuries from outdoor fires have increased about three-fold in the past decade, according to the Consumer Products Safety Commission. About one-fourth of the burn victims are under the age of 5, according to published reports, and many are burned the next day, when abandoned coals can remain hot.

Several safety agencies and insurance carriers offer tips for fire pit safety. Most are simple common sense.

Here are a few to keep in mind:

--Build your fire pit on a level surface, placing raised pits on brick, tile or concrete blocks, not directly on the grass.

--Keep fire at a safe distance -- at least 10 feet -- from homes, fences, tree branches and other potential sources of flammable material. The more clearance, the better.

--Don't build a fire pit with river stones. The moisture in such stones can heat rapidly, exploding the rock. Use dry, rough stones instead.

--Avoid using pits during windy conditions that can allow embers to spread.

--Put your fire out safely with water, then gently stir and spread the ashes. Leave the area only when the ash is cool to the touch.

--Keep buckets or water (or sand) or a garden hose at the ready for an emergency.

More and more people are deciding fire pits add beauty to their landscaping and enhance their time outdoors. Beware, though, the inherent dangers. Don't play with fire.

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