5 hot outdoor fire safety tips for a heatwave

The world’s getting hotter. The climate is warming faster than we thought it would. You need outdoor fire safety tips. At the time we wrote this post – in early August 2022 – we’ve had two major heatwaves so far this year, both of which have caused wildfires in the countryside as well as totally unexpected fires in towns and cities.

If you’re keen to enjoy real fire outdoors throughout a glorious summer like this one, how do you do it safely? When the last thing you want to do is set the garden, street or entire neighbourhood on fire, you need these top outdoor fire safety tips for a heatwave.

One – Never leave an outdoor fire unattended

Most of the time you’re fine. This is the UK, after all, a place where the weather is never predictable. But now and again things get far too dry for comfort. While you can leave a fire burning in the garden in winter, or when things are damp, it’s a big no-no in a heatwave. Pick one fire monitor for your garden party, or choose several people and give them each a shift. It’s particularly important when you’ve been drinking, and even more so when there are pets and children around.

Two – Invest in a chiminea and fire bowl floor protector mat

A chiminea is a great way to enjoy open flames more safely since it keeps the flames safely inside the belly of the chim, with very little risk of hot ash escaping or sparks flying. You can stand a chiminea or fire bowl on top of wooden or composite decking, but it makes sense to get a floor protector. Ours is made from tough, good quality steel sheeting, designed to protect decking from damage by falling sparks and ash. Just place the chimenea or fire bowl on top of it before you light up. at 60cm x 70cm, one size fits all.

It’s also good for placing a chiminea or fire bowl on the lawn, helping save the grass from the heat. Once you’ve used the fire blanket to put a fire out, replace it with a new one.

Three – Always have a fresh fire blanket handy

What is you end up with a fire? It makes sense to always have a fresh fire blanket handy, so you can throw it over an unwanted fire to put the flames out quickly and safely. We sell two sizes of fire blanket, both perfect for smothering the flames before they turn into a proper blaze.

Four – Provide fire-proof ashtrays

It’s also sensible to make sure you provide the right kind of ashtrays. Think ashtrays filled with sand rather than just empty ashtrays. The weight of the sand will stop the ash tray blowing away, and the sand holds the ciggy butts in place so they don’t fly out to set fires.

It’s always good to have a few buckets of water standing around too, just in case. An extra benefit? When it gets really hot, there are few things nicer than sticking your feet in a bucket of cold water!

Five – Keep your fuel away from the source of the fire

Whether you’re burning wood or coal, keep the fuel away from the fire itself.

Some fire pits run on bottled gas, with space for the gas cannister underneath. Others have the gas cannister standing next to the fire pit. The cannisters are designed for the job, so they’re safe. But a pile of wood right next to a chiminea or fire bowl isn’t a great idea when there’s a risk of fire in a heatwave. Stash it a good distance away and, ideally, cover it so it’s safe from any flying ash or sparks.

Good quality garden fires are designed with safety in mind

It’s good to know that the best quality chimineas, fire pits, fire bowls, outdoor ovens and BBQs are designed with fire safety in mind. They keep the flames where they belong, minimise flying ash, and help prevent sparks. But we can’t comment on the fire safety of cheaper, lower quality versions.

So here’s to the best alfresco entertainment summer EVER. We hope you have a fabulous, safe time.

PS. Here’s another post that might interest you, this time about 10 ways to stay cool outdoors in a heatwave.