October is National Fire Prevention Awareness Month, a time to be mindful of the importance of safety when building fires. Fall fires are relaxing and entertaining, and we pride ourselves on providing our customers with an unmatched firewood experience that begins with safety. Here are 3 tips to ensure your fire burning experience goes off without a hitch.
1. Use natural fire starters. The safest way to start a fire is to use all natural Fire Starters. Liquid fire starters such as lighter fluid and gasoline, while extremely flammable, release chemical vapors that are both toxic and explosive. In contrast, our kiln dried kindling and Fire Starters are all natural and provide an easy, safe and chemical-free way to ignite an unparalleled fire experience.
2. Make sure you burn the best firewood. The type of firewood you burn should not be overlooked. The safest choice for your family is kiln dried firewood because the drying process removes pests, fungus and locked-in moisture that can produce harmful smoke. As you’re making plans to have a fire, here are types of wood to avoid:
- Softwood: Trees such as Pine, Fir and Cypress are known as “softwood”. Softwood does not provide the longevity of burn time or the same experience of a nice crackle or aroma that kiln dried wood does. These types of wood are also more susceptible to mold and pests.
- Painted wood, pressure treated wood and plywood. Chemically treated wood releases toxic fumes and carcinogens when burned. Even small quantities of these fumes can be dangerous.
- Green wood. Green wood is wood from a living tree. Such wood contains sap and produces a great deal of smoke which can make it hard to breathe. After a tree is cut down, the wood needs to age for 6-9 months to make sure it dries out.
At the end of the day, kiln dried oak and hickory firewood produce a top quality fire experience with the easiest, safest and longest-lasting burn.
3. Extinguishing your fire the right way. The majority of people assume the best way to extinguish a fire is by using water, but smothering it is much more effective. Extinguishing your fire with a steel fire pit cover provides a better experience by cutting off the airflow to the embers so you can be sure the fire will not rekindle. This also saves you from dealing with huge plumes of smoke that result from using water and having to clean up wet soot later. Fire pit covers also serve as a lid to keep your pit safe from rain, so your next fire will start more easily.
Custom-fitted steel fire pit covers, kiln dried firewood, all-natural fire starters and more kiln dried product offerings are available on our website or in our Atlanta-area showroom. When you order from us, we deliver firewood right to your door and a delivery artisan gets your fire started for you. We’re here to make sure your fire burning experience is the best in the world.
