How To Put Out Fire Pit Quickly And Safely?

Long summer nights and exciting stories told around the fire have to end at some point. We hope that your friends and family will stay until the fire is almost out before calling it a night.

Can you keep a fire going in a fire pit all night?

You don’t know how long it takes for your fire to go out before you can go inside and sleep?

Or, are you ready to leave your campsite, but the fire is still going?

No matter what’s going on, and even if you’ve had a few too many drinks, it’s your job to make sure the fire is completely out and will stay out all night. The good news is that it’s easy to do, and with a little bit of planning, you can move the party inside without missing a beat.

Some ways to put out a fire in a fire pit are to pour water on it, mix it with dirt or sand, cover it with a snuffer, use a fire extinguisher, or disconnect the fuel if it runs on gas. Make sure there are no embers on the ground and that the ash is cool to the touch before you leave.

If you aren’t sure if your fire is out, it probably isn’t out, so don’t take a chance.

Follow this helpful guide to learn more about how to put out your fire pit and get some other fire safety tips along the way.

How does a fire pit work?

A fire pit is just a fire in a hole dug in the ground or in a more formal enclosure. It can be made of brick, steel, or other metals. Even if a fire pit is kept inside one of these constructions, it is still a lot more open than a fire in a fireplace.

A lot of people have fire pits. You’ve seen them if you’ve ever been to a campsite. Most of the time, these structures are cheap, easy to use, and safe (when they behave properly in a fire), so many people choose them.

Fire pits are also a great way to add to the atmosphere of a backyard.

Are fire pits safe?

Fire pits are safe most of the time. But, like anything else, there are risks you need to think about before deciding that smoking a fire pit is a good idea.

• Check the level of fire danger. If you’ve been having a lot of dry days lately, there’s a much greater chance that something will catch fire out of the blue. Check the Wildland Fire Assessment System’s handy map to see how dangerous it is to start a fire in your area before you do. The more dangerous your fire is, the higher it is.
• Think about how safe the fire pit itself is. A lot of people make their fire pits, but was yours done right? If this is the first time you’ve used it, be even more careful. Find out what kind of material was used to make the fire pit and look closely at how it was built. If you’re not sure how safe it is, it’s best to skip the fire or have a hose ready.
• Think about the wind. On a windy day, embers move around the site by the wind. This can be a big fire safety risk, especially if your fire danger rating is higher than average. How windy is too windy? That’s the question. Well, you shouldn’t have a fire if you can see trees and other things moving in the wind.
• Don’t let kids or animals near the fire. Anyone who doesn’t know how dangerous a fire can be should stay away from it. In fact, everyone should be aware of how close they are to each other. Young children and animals are more likely to get hurt by fires because they may not know how dangerous they are. Think about them and make sure they don’t come back.
• Be careful if there is alcohol involved. Adults who have been drinking are more likely to do dangerous things near an open fire, and alcohol is also flammable. If you pour something into the fire by accident, it can make the flames bigger than you wanted.

How can you put out a fire as quickly as possible?

Before anyone with a store-bought metal fire pit says something, you don’t need to pour water on the fire. Instead, the best way to put out a fire pit is to use a large metal bucket or tub, and drop the remaining coals into the metal bucket.

Even if the bucket gets hot, it won’t melt like plastic, and the coals will be completely covered. Even if your fire is still warm, you can use a coal shovel to get any embers that are left and put them in the bucket.

Your fire pit will cool down, and when it does, you can cover it up before going to bed.

Other ways to put out a fire pit

Let the Fire Go Out by Itself

This is pretty obvious: stop adding wood or anything else to the fire. Ask your family or guests if they want to stay out longer. Depending on the type of wood, a well-seasoned log can burn for anywhere from 1 to 3 hours.

Beautiful, right?

After the fire has died down to mostly coals, spread the embers around the pit with a pair of fire tongs or a shovel. This gives all the coals oxygen and speeds up the burning.

Caution! 

Leaving the coals alone is dangerous because a lot can happen overnight. The wind could pick up the coals and blow them away, the fire pit could fall over, or the heat from the fire could light a dry fuel source nearby. There is always a worry about kids, pets, and wild animals.

No matter what happens, there is a chance that the fire will start up again, which could cause a lot of damage to your backyard and your neighbor’s backyard.

Use Water to Put Out a Fire in a Fire Pit

The best answer is to use water. After the coals are spread out around the pit, use the garden hose to clean them well. You could also shovel them into a bucket of water and submerge them completely.

Can water be poured into a fire pit?

It’s not a good idea to dump water on your fire pit or spray it on it. If you buy a fire pit (for about $100), you’ll probably only use it for a few seasons, but it won’t hurt that much. For more expensive setups, however, the sudden change in temperature puts stress on the steel and welds.

Steel gets bigger as it gets hotter, and dumping water on it quickly cools it and makes it shrink quickly. This is called thermal expansion, and it makes the welds or other joints work harder.

Pouring hot water into a glass that has been in the freezer has the same effect.

If you’re using a store-bought fire pit that’s not in the ground, the bucket method is your best bet. This will keep water and rust from getting into your fire pit and make sure the fire is completely out.

Here’s how to use water to put out a fire:

1. If you can, let the fire go out by itself. Stop adding wood to the fire about an hour before you need to put it out. If you do this, it will be much easier to put out the fire. Obviously, there are times when this is not possible. Sometimes you don’t have time to let the flames go out completely. We understand. Still, you’ll have a lot less trouble if you can plan ahead for this.
2. Spread out the leftover coals with a shovel or a stick. The remaining wood and coals will cool down faster if you can cover as much of their surface area as possible with water. Separate them as much as you can so they don’t share their remaining heat with nearby embers. Keep an eye on red-hot pieces and bigger logs of wood because they can hold a lot of heat inside.
3. Give us some water. Now is the time to do what most people do first, which is to pour water into the pit. Since the fire is out, you might wonder why this is still being done. Even though the fire is out, those embers are still able to catch fire and have a lot of heat. Cover everything carefully with water, but stay away and watch out for hot steam rising. Keep putting out the fire until you can no longer hear it sizzling.
4. Use your shovel or a stick to stir up the ashes. Embers can hide in places that are hard to reach, so you should turn the ashes over to find any that may have gotten away. If you aren’t sure if they are all out, add more water to the pit. When it comes to fires, it’s always better to be safe than sorry.
5. Sweep the area to find fallen embers that are still there. Even if you don’t believe it, the tiny sparks that come out of your fire pit can be used to start forest fires. Before you leave, check the whole area (yes, the whole area) to make sure the wind hasn’t spread any burning leaves or debris. Unwanted fires are never good, and when they can be traced back to you, they are even worse.
6. Check how hot the pit is. The last thing you should do before leaving your pit fire is to check the temperature. Put your hand in (yes, really) to check if it is completely cool. If you can’t put your hand on it, it’s too hot to stay.

“Snuff” It

It is safer to let the fire go out on its own this way. After you spread out the coals, put a large piece of metal, like the lid of a trash can, or a “snuffer,” of the right size on top of the fire pit.

These are basically just metal covers that keep the air out and keep the pit safe when it’s not being used.

Just put the snuffer cover on top of the pit, and the fire will go out quickly. Make sure to keep the lid on until the fire is completely out to avoid getting burned.

This keeps air from getting to the fire, which suffocates the fire. There may be one made just for your fire pit. If not, you’ll have to use a trash can lid, a grill lid, or one that you make yourself.

There must be no way for air to get to the fire at all.

Keep in mind that the fire pit will still be hot for a few hours and that the lid, or “snuffer,” will also be hot to the touch.

Caution!

Make sure that children or pets won’t touch the fire pit’s lid or other parts while it’s cooling down. Before they cool down, the lid and fire pit will be very hot to the touch for several hours.

The flames of fire need oxygen to keep going. If this source runs out, it can’t do anything but go out. Even though snuffers work well, it’s always a good idea to keep sand, dirt, or a working hose nearby to put out embers that have fallen.

Other Uses of Snuffers

Snuffers aren’t just made for putting out fires, although they do this very well. These covers can be used for more than one thing. They are also a good way to keep bugs, dirt, and water from getting into your fire pit.

In the same way, you can set up your wood ahead of time and put the snuffer over it to keep water from getting in and putting out your fire.

But you will need to make sure that the snuffer cover fits your pit well. The best way to do this is to measure the diameter of the opening of your fire pit and add 2 to 4 inches to that number (5.1-10.2 centimeters). This will give you a lid that is the right size.

Use Sand or Dry Dirt to Put Out a Fire Pit

Most likely, you won’t use this method in a residential or home setting, but it’s good to know if you’re going camping.

Again, this method is simple: just shovel dirt or sand on top of the fire until it is completely covered. It will take several hours for the fire to go out completely, so make sure there are no fuel sources nearby.

Finally, add dirt on top of the embers and mix it around until the fire is completely out. Before you leave, you should always look around for pieces of fire and check the temperature.

If you don’t have access to dirt, you can also use sand.

Use an Extinguisher

When you think about putting out a fire in a pit, an extinguisher might not be the first thing that comes to mind. However, a fire is a fire.

This method will work for sure, but it’s probably something you should make a habit of.

Fire extinguishers are made to be used in the case of a fire. So, putting out a campfire with one is probably not the best idea. Who knows what could happen between now and when you can replace this fire extinguisher?

On top of that, it costs a lot to buy a new fire extinguisher. Also, being around fire extinguisher spray for a long time or breathing it in can be bad for your health.

Also, depending on where you are, it may not be easy to carry one around, so it’s important to know how to do it in other ways.

What to do?

Most people have never used a fire extinguisher before, which can make an accident fire even scarier and more stressful. Using one on purpose to put out a campfire may be a good way to learn, but you shouldn’t make it a habit.

Use the word PASS to remember the right way to put out a fire:

1.  P: Pull the safety pin out to break the seal.
2.  A: Point the nozzle at the fire’s base.
3.  S: Squeeze the handle of the extinguisher to make the spray come out.
4.  S: Sweep from side to side until the whole base of the fire is covered and the fire is out.

If you remember this acronym, you’ll know how to use a fire extinguisher in an emergency.

Stop fuel supply

Turning off the gas supply won’t put out all pit fires easily, but if you have an electric one, you’re in luck. Electric fire pits are hooked up to a source of fuel, which needs to give off the gas for the fire to stay lit.

So, the nice thing about having an electric fire pit is that you can just turn off the power to put out the flame.

Other tips for putting out a fire pit

Get Ready for the Night in Advance

At the end of the night, make things easy on yourself. Make sure that you have a big bucket or tub of water nearby. Place the coal shovel and the fire tongs near the fire pit. Set out just enough kindling to get the fire going, and bring up enough firewood ahead of time.

Don’t forget important things like s’mores, hotdogs, drinks, etc. to bring to a campfire. Before everyone else arrives, put those in a cooler and keep them close to the fire.

Pro-tip

After you put out the fire, you can use your bucket or cooler to gather trash and bring it all inside. Put a flashlight in your cooler, on your chair, or in your pocket so you can see when the fire goes out.

Make sure you have the right things

Safety comes first. At the very least, you should put your fire pit in the right place, away from any overhanging plants, dry fuel sources, etc., and you should always have a fire extinguisher or a bucket of water nearby.

It doesn’t take long for the wind to pick up a spark and start a fire somewhere else.

Using a spark screen will help keep embers from flying out of the fire pit. If you need to move your fire pit after using it (it could rain at any time), having thick oven mitts or heat-resistant gloves on hand is helpful.

Hear the Fire

When you use water to put out a fire, pay attention to the sounds it makes. When they first touch, you’ll hear some sizzling sounds. Keep pouring water on the fire until you can no longer see any embers or hear any sizzling sounds.

What happens if a pit fire isn’t put out right?

Anyone who knows about Smokey Bear knows how important it is to be safe around fires. When pits aren’t put out properly, animals, plants, and, most importantly, you can be in danger.

When it comes to forest fires, people are the main cause. In fact, 89% of wildfires in a 2018 – 2022 period were started by people.

So, 89% of wildfires could have been stopped completely. Think about all the damage that couldn’t be fixed that didn’t have to happen. When it comes to putting out your pit fire, you won’t get caught red-handed if you follow the right steps.

If you don’t take care of fires the right way in a park, you might get a ticket with your name on it. It’s very frustrating to have to pay a fine for something that could have been avoided.

You’ll kick yourself later for not taking a few extra seconds to make sure all the embers were out. That’s why it’s best to start out by following safety rules.

Related: How Long Do Lava Rocks Last In A Fire Pit?

Getting out of the wilderness

Fire safety is important all the time, not just when you’re in the woods. Even when you’re in your backyard, it’s still important to be careful. Even a fallen ember could start a fire in your grass if the conditions are right, or someone could fall in and get burned.

Do your research so you don’t have to pay for something like an insurance deductible, a painful burn, or a medical bill. Everyone will be happy.

Things you should know about fire pits

Before you light your fire pit or set it up, think about these safety tips:

• If you want to put in a fire pit, check with your local government first. Most city ordinances allow fire pits, but not all of them do. Find out what the rules are in your area before you buy or build your own. If open fires aren’t allowed, propane pits and electric fire tables are great alternatives.
• Don’t put anything extremely flammable fire into your fire. Don’t try to start a fire, even if you have a pile of dry leaves nearby on a windy day or a jug of gasoline you’re dying to use. Adding foreign, flammable things to your fire is never a good idea because they can make it get out of hand.
• Don’t burn wood that is wet, treated, painted, rotten, or otherwise dangerous. Not every piece of wood is the same. Some kinds of wood aren’t good for fire pits because they make too much smoke or give off toxic fumes. If you want a fire that is happy and healthy, stay away from these.
• Keep fire-starting materials at least 10 feet (3 meters) away. Make sure that anything that can catch fire is far away from your fire so that it doesn’t accidentally spread to other parts of your property or campsite. Don’t take chances—they’re not worth it.

How to make your fire pit last longer?

Fire pits have been around since the Stone Age when they were the main way people kept warm and cooked. Back then, fire pits were usually just holes dug in the ground, which was basically just a bonfire.

Fire pits are a bit more complicated now. Fire pits are the second most popular piece of outdoor furniture right now, and if you want to buy one or already have one, you’ll need to know how to keep it in good shape.

• Always be careful about what you burn. Don’t burn trash or wood that’s been treated with chemicals. Instead, choose a traditional fire pit that burns wood and only use dry (never wet) firewood from your area. If you burn anything else, it can give off toxic fumes and chemicals that are bad for your health and can also damage your fire pit over time.
• You shouldn’t need to use lighter fluid if you’re using dry firewood. If you build your fire the right way, you should be able to start it easily with tinder and kindling. Again, the lighter fluid can hurt you, and it can also damage the finish of your fire pit, which can make it look worse over time. If you have trouble starting a fire in your fire pit with only firewood, tinder, and kindling, we have some tips for you further down in this article.
• It’s much better for the fire pit itself if you let the fire go out on its own. It’s faster and easier to douse the fire with water, but the sudden temperature change could damage the materials that make up your fire pit. If it’s not an emergency, try to stay with your fire until it’s completely out. Of course, you’ll want to make sure it’s completely out before you leave the area. If you put out a 1000-degree fire quickly, it can damage the structure of your fire pit, which could be dangerous in the future.
• If you cook on your fire pit as many people do, you should always clean the grate before and after use. Once you’re done cooking your burgers, let the grates cool down completely. Then, use a wire brush to clean the grate of your fire pit and get rid of any food or other things stuck on it. If you don’t do this every time, bits of hardened food can stick to the grate, which isn’t very appetizing to see the next time you want to use it. Before you use the grate, you might want to add some cooking oil to it. This will stop rust and erosion, and it will also make cooking easier.
• Always cover your fire pit when you’re not using it. If you leave it out in the weather every day, it will definitely get damaged. Rain can cause rusting and serious damage to the structure, which can make it unsafe to use in the future and also make it look bad.
• Every time you use your fire pit, clean out the ashes. We suggest waiting 24 hours after the fire pit is out to make sure it is completely cool, then using a shovel to move the ashes and debris to a safe, non-flammable container for disposal. Don’t try to get the ashes out of the fire while they’re still hot.

Which is better and safer: a wood fire pit or a gas fire pit?

At the end of the day, gas fire pits and wood fire pits are very different, and which one you like best will depend on what kind of experience you want.

With the flip of a switch, a gas fire pit lets you enjoy the look and warmth of a fire. It doesn’t make smoke or sparks like a fire that burns wood does.

But a fire pit that uses wood will produce hotter flames that you can cook over. This is not something you should do with most gas fire pits. Wood also gives off a campfire vibe that you can’t get with a gas flame. If you can get firewood for free, it is cheaper than gas as well.

Learn More: Can You Use Fabuloso On Wood Floors And How To

How is the air?

When choosing between a fire pit that uses wood or gas, you should think about the air quality where you live and the needs of your family and friends who will be using the fire pit. Gas fire pits don’t make smoke like fires that burn wood do.

If you live in a place where the air quality is already bad, breathing in wood smoke can be bothersome and dangerous, especially for people with asthma, emphysema, or COPD.

Fine wood particles also make heart and lung diseases worse and have been linked to early deaths in people who already have heart and lung diseases. People who have congestive heart failure, angina, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, emphysema, or asthma should avoid wood smoke in general, according to the EPA.

If you live in a deep valley with poor air circulation, you shouldn’t light a wood-burning fire when there are smog alerts or when the air quality is bad.

Also Read: How to Make a Man Cave Smoke Room

Forest Fires

If you live in an area where forest fires or wildfires that are hard to control are common, you will need to keep this in mind when choosing a fire pit.

The truth is that your backyard fire pit could start a forest fire in many places. Most places with a lot of wood or a lot of wildfires will have seasonal burn bans. Before you use your fire pit, check with your local government to see if there is a burn ban in place.

Because they can spark, fires that burn wood are more likely to start an accident in the backyard than gas fire pits. They also leave behind hot embers and ash that need to be handled carefully so they don’t start a fire. On the other hand, gas-burning fire pits can be turned off with the flip of a switch.

Is it simple to use?

Even though people have been making fires for thousands of years, we don’t learn how to do it when we are born, and many people don’t know how.

Turning on and off a gas fire pit is much easier. All you have to do is flip a switch or turn a dial. A gas fire pit is a way to go if you want your fire pit to be easy to use.

It’s not hard to start your own fire in a wood-burning fire pit, but you need to learn how to do it and follow safety rules to avoid fire damage or injuries.

Which one is better?

Most of the time, a gas fire pit is better than a wood fire pit, unless you want a certain look or feel or need a lot of heat from your fire pit.

Gas fire pits are easier to use and less likely to start a fire in the woods. Furthermore, they don’t have a big effect on air quality. Very often heat settings can be changed at gas fire pits, which is an additional advance compared to a wood-burning fire pit.

 Frequently asked questions

 

Conclusion

Even if the rules seem boring, it’s important to follow them carefully when it comes to fire safety.

The most common way to put out a fire is to pour water on it, but there are also other ways, such as: mixing in dirt or sand; covering it with a snuffer lid; using a fire extinguisher; turning off the fuel if you have a gas-powered version; and covering it with a snuffer lid.

No matter which method you use, you should look at the site, look for fallen embers, and check the temperature of the ashes before calling the fire out. If you can’t touch the ashes, you can’t leave them.

If you use your fire pits correctly and safely, they are always a lot of fun. Whether you use a fire pit that burns wood or one that runs on gas, you need to be careful to keep yourself and your family safe.

It’s always better to be ready and do what you can to avoid problems.