Can I Have a Fire Pit in My Backyard?

Curating a cozy and inviting space in your backyard is a great way to spend more time outdoors with the people you love the most. Nothing brings a beautiful outdoor living area together like the warming welcome of a fire pit. Yet many people worry that fire pit rules and regulations in Seattle, WA make it impossible to add this wonderful feature to their yards.

Local fire pit regulations

Believe it or not, fire pit burning in Seattle, WA is completely legal. However, there are some guidelines you must follow to keep you and your family safe, as well as to avoid any fines:

• Do not use your fire pit when air quality burn bans are in effect.
• The fire must remain no larger than three feet in diameter and two feet in height.
• The fire pit must be located at least 25 feet away from any structures or combustible materials.
• Do not burn garbage, yard debris, paper products and other trash.
• Fire extinguishing equipment should be readily available. This can be a shovel and two buckets of water, a charged garden hose or a fire extinguisher with a minimum of 4-A rating.
• An adult must monitor the fire the entire time it is burning.

Fire pit safety

In addition to local fire pit rules and regulations in Seattle, WA, there are other safety measures you should take to ensure no one gets hurt and you don’t cause an uncontrollable fire:

• Check the wind direction before starting your fire.
• Do not use any flammable liquids such as gasoline or lighter fluid to build your fire.
• Avoid wearing clothing made from flammable materials like nylon, as well as loose-fitting clothes.
• Children and pets should remain at least three feet away from the fire pit.
• Soft woods such as pine or cedar will “pop” when burnt, and will put off sparks. Avoid burning these types of wood.
• If your fire pit runs on gas, make sure the emergency shutoff valve is no more than six feet away from the pit.
• Fully extinguish any fire when you’re done enjoying it.

Fire pit maintenance

Properly maintaining your fire pit is crucial to keeping everyone safe and ensuring many years of enjoying your homey hearth. This includes cleaning out all of the ashes created after burning a fire in the pit. Be sure to only do this task when the pit has cooled off completely.

For masonry fire pits, you’ll want to mix a solution of one part muriatic acid to nine parts water to remove buildup in your pit. Since gas fire pits do not create ash, you’ll instead want to make sure the burner is free of residue before building a fire. Rust around metal fire pits can be removed with a stiff wire brush and a rag. It is recommended that you use a protective substance to minimize rust buildup on metal fire pits.

Fire pit burning in Seattle, WA requires a bit of preparation and know-how, but once you have the basics down, you, your friends and your family will be able to experience many hours of happiness and joy around this stunning yard feature. Contact Custom Fire Art today to discuss options for installing a fire pit in your backyard.

Categorised in: Custom Fire Pits

This post was written by Writer