Backyard Bonfire

Urban Legend or Suburban Fairy Tale?

In cities across the country, major bonfires are not legally hosted activities unless sanctioned by the municipality where they are being held. One solution has home owners and bonfire lovers alike satisfying these flame cravings, the backyard bonfire. No, it’s not an urban legend or suburban fairy tale, this event is one that celebrates endings and beginnings among social gatherers. So, if we cannot attend a giant beachfront bonfire, how do we connect with one created in a backyard, and what are the risks?

Create Your Backyard Bonfire and BE SAFE ABOUT IT

Before starting a backyard bonfire, make sure there are no burn bans going on where you live. You can find out about burn bans by checking online with your official county website. Enter in the online search query your county name and “official burn bans,” the month and year. This query will immediately pull up any current burn ban information such as area dryness reports, wind reports, and official news coverage of these burn bans. Remember, fires spread rapidly in a dry area with high winds. ALWAYS check with your county before lighting up the smallest fire.

Another solid resource to access before starting your bonfire is the NFPA site (National Fire Prevention Association), where you’ll find safety and other tips on how to start and maintain a safe fire. According to the NFPA, never start a fire on a dry and windy day. If the conditions are right, create a 10-foot or 3-meter clear perimeter around your fire, ensuring there are no branches, grasses, or timbers outside the designated area that could catch on fire. Keep children and pets at least 1-meter away from the fire.

If you watch animated cartoons from the 1940’s to the 1980’s, there are clear references to fire safety using a bucket of water or dry sand when extinguishing a live fire. Many thanks to the writers and animators who reinforced these simple and responsible methods of putting out a live fire, because they made living in those times much safer with self-sufficiency. If you don’t have a bucket of water or dry sand laying around to extinguish a live fire, add a fire extinguisher into your mix and keep it close by.

There is more than one way to approach creating a backyard bonfire. In today’s modern world, connecting with a gas-fueled fire pit is one solution. Gas-fueled fire pits offer flexibility as to where you may enjoy your fire. If you wish to enjoy the fire under a covered pergola or extended veranda, or designated outdoor living area, it’s possible to do this safely. Another way to enjoy this outdoor experience is with a metal drum base, which can be found in many outdoor living departments of local hardware, garden, or home stores. Stacking clean short logs in the shape of an upward built cone is the best way to start out. Placing a fire starter log with paper wads stacked under the shaped logs also helps start and maintain a fire. One manual way to approach creating this experience is to dig a designated hole in the backyard (about 3-feet deep and 3-feet wide) and build the same manual fire in that pit. You can use longer logs for this fire for a greater authentic bonfire experience but always make sure the safety checks are in place before using this method. Also, check with your local fire department to find out about any fire permits and if you can build an in-ground fire pit/bonfire in your yard. As with any created open fire, be prepared to extinguish it if necessary. Only use clean logs when building your bonfire and never burn trash or anything else in the fire.

With Family, Friends or Solo?

If you’re planning a bonfire you should master the movements and safety procedures; start out by creating one for yourself. An initial solo bonfire gives valuable insight as to the simple mechanics and controls needed in order to pull off this event while entertaining. Preparing for a group may take more labor and set up, but the efforts are valuable in creating a safe and engaging environment. A solo bonfire is good for taking in new scents and clearing your head. A shared bonfire is good for creating a positive energy while sharing with those you cherish. This is the time where everything tastes, smells, and interacts better.

In With the New Activity

If you have never attended or hosted a backyard bonfire, it’s an event you’ll want to host again and again. The scents are beautiful and unforgettable. The lighting is only something nature can produce. As with any activity involving a live fire, please utilize our suggested safety procedures before doing this each and every time. Being known for great events is good but being known for great events that offer safety is better in the long-run for maintaining personal assets and relationships.

Backyard Culinary Master

While we do not advocate making an entire meal or meal components on an open social bonfire not designated for food preparation, we do advocate the creation of treats. Roasted marshmallows are always on the menu when keeping company over a bonfire, and our BON Fire Marshmallows are perfect for this occasion. Find the recipe below for a new and flavorful marshmallow experience!

BON

Images: KaboomPics,  bmcent1 from Getty Images,