If you love to host backyard parties with family and friends, consider installing a fire pit in your backyard and using propane to fuel it. This gas emits no harmful byproducts, and it offers dependability and convenience. However, as with any fuel, it requires safety precautions. Following these tips will help prevent accidents while you enjoy time around the fire. 

How to Use a Propane Fire Pit Safely

1. Choose an Open Area

Install your fire pit in a clear area with 10 feet or more of open space around it, away from your house and any other outdoor structures. Also, don’t place the pit near trees, overhead electric wires, or on top of pipes on the ground. This reduces the risk of sparks or flames igniting nearby objects.

2. Buy a Fire Extinguisher

Before starting up your fire pit, make sure you have the right type of fire extinguisher. Fires involving propane require Class B fire extinguishers. These can put out fires that start from combustible and flammable liquids, without spreading the flames around. Keep a Class B extinguisher on hand, along with sand and water, to cover any additional fires.

3. Learn to Use the Extinguisher

During an emergency, you should know how to extinguish a propane fire properly. Turning the fuel supply off is the best way to stop the fire, but this does not help if the flames have spread. After turning the fuel off, use the extinguisher to put the fire out. If you can’t reach the shutoff, pour sand and water on the fire.

4. Call the Fire Department for Help

When you can’t put a fire out immediately, call the fire department. If you use the fire extinguisher before closing off the fuel supply, the gas can escape and accumulate in the atmosphere. This excess gas might ignite and cause an explosion. Additionally, with the dry summer weather, the flames could ignite the lawn and start to spread, threatening your house.

5. Never Burn Paper or Trash

Propane gas is the only fuel you need for your fire pit. Never add anything else to start or boost the fire, such as paper, trash, or gasoline. To protect people and objects in the area from sparks, install a fire screen. Keep children and pets away from the pit, and when it is on, always ensure an attentive adult is present. Never leave a fire unattended for any reason.

Keep your fire pit burning brightly with a full propane tank from the pros at Martindale Guadalupe Gas Company. Offering high-quality gas at affordable prices, this Caldwell County, TX, fuel delivery company supplies area residents with supplies and advice to support their outdoor activities. These specialists use their 71 years of experience as a family-owned business to provide individualized service. For more about the resources they offer, visit them online. To request delivery, call (512) 357-6497.