24/7 Emergency Service
Bonfire Tips for Wood, Ritchie & Pleasants Counties
11/1/2018 (Permalink)
Fall is a great time to enjoy a bone fire in Wood, Ritchie & Pleasants Counties.
Fall is the best time of year for bonfires. If you are having a bonfire, whether it’s to get rid of garden waste or part of a celebration, follow the simple tips below to make sure you, and others, are safe.
Fire can spread rapidly, so where and how you build your bonfire is very important. When you have a bonfire, follow these simple guidelines:
- Give warning to your neighbors beforehand - they are much less likely to complain
- Light the bonfire at a time least likely to affect your neighbors - for example, not on a warm day when people will be in their garden
- Make sure to only burn dry material not damp, which causes more smoke
- Build the bonfire away from sheds, fences and trees
- Make sure there are no cables, like telephone wires, above the bonfire
- NEVER use petrol or paraffin to get the fire going as it may get out of control quickly
- As a rule of thumb the bonfire should be a minimum of five times its height from property
Once the bonfire is lit, make sure you:
- Keep a fire extinguisher or a garden hose nearby in case of emergencies
- Never leave the bonfire unattended
- Keep children and pets away from the bonfire
- Don’t throw any fireworks into the fire
- Don't burn aerosols, tires, canisters or anything containing foam or paint - many produce toxic fumes and some containers may explode, causing injury
Once the bonfire has died down, spray the embers with water to stop it reigniting.