What You Should Move Away From the Fire Pit Right Now
A backyard fire pit can be great, but it also comes with risk—especially when things are stored too close. It’s easy to overlook what’s sitting nearby until you’re dealing with melted plastic, scorched tools, or flying sparks.
Fire pits throw more heat and embers than people think, especially in dry or windy conditions. If you haven’t done a quick cleanup around yours lately, now’s the time.
Plastic Chairs and Tables
Even a few feet from the pit, plastic furniture can start to warp or melt. One strong gust and an ember can send it bubbling or smoking fast.
Stick with metal or wood chairs near the fire, and drag anything plastic back when not in use. It’s not worth ruining your seating—or breathing in melted plastic fumes.
Garden Hoses or Hose Reels
If you’ve got a hose stretched nearby, move it. Heat can weaken the hose over time, and melted rubber or vinyl leaves a nasty smell behind.
Keep your hose coiled well away from the pit, even if you’re using it for fire safety. You don’t want to ruin your best hose trying to be prepared.
Bags of Mulch or Soil
Plastic-wrapped mulch and soil are flammable, especially when they’re dry. Even if they don’t ignite, they’ll absorb heat and release fumes.
Stack them somewhere shaded and away from anything that could spark. The last thing you want is for your yard supplies to catch the wrong kind of attention.
Spare Firewood
It’s tempting to stack extra wood right next to the fire for convenience, but that’s a recipe for flare-ups. Heat and stray sparks can start charring the pile before you even notice.
Only keep what you’ll use in the next few minutes near the pit. The rest belongs farther back, ideally on a rack or in a covered bin.
Lighter Fluid or Fire Starters
If you use lighter fluid, fatwood, or store matches outside, double-check how close they are to the fire pit. These items can go up in seconds if they get too warm or knocked over.
Store them in a dry bin well away from the pit, preferably with a lid. Don’t let your fire-starting supplies become a fire hazard.
Kid or Pet Toys
Balls, plastic tools, and chew toys shouldn’t be anywhere near the fire pit. Most are made of plastic or rubber and can melt or catch quickly.
Once they’ve been singed or heated, they’re not safe for kids or animals to use. Do a sweep before every fire and move anything soft or plastic out of the way.
*This article was developed with AI-powered tools and has been carefully reviewed by our editors.
