Fire Pit Safety Tips & Common Mistakes to Avoid

A fire pit is one of the safest ways to enjoy an open fire in your garden — when used correctly. Most fire pit accidents and damage are caused by a small number of avoidable mistakes. This guide covers everything you need to know to use your fire pit safely and get the most from it.

Safe Placement

Where you place your fire pit is the most important safety decision you'll make. Get this right and most other risks are significantly reduced.

• Distance from structures: maintain at least 3 metres from your house, shed, fence, pergola, overhead structure or any other combustible material. This is a minimum — more is always better.
• Surface: place on a non-combustible surface — paving slabs, gravel, concrete or bare earth. Never place directly on timber decking or artificial grass. If you have decking, use a heat-resistant fire pit mat underneath.
• Overhead clearance: check for overhanging branches, pergola beams or any combustible material above the fire pit. Sparks travel upward — ensure there's clear space above.
• Wind direction: position the fire pit so the prevailing wind carries smoke away from seating areas and the house. Check wind direction before lighting each time — it changes.
• Level ground: ensure the fire pit is on level, stable ground. A tipping fire pit is a serious hazard.

Fuel: What to Burn and What to Avoid

Use: dry, seasoned hardwood logs or kiln-dried logs. Kiln-dried logs burn hotter, cleaner and produce less smoke than unseasoned wood. Hardwoods (oak, ash, beech) burn longer and produce more heat than softwoods.

In smoke control areas, use: smokeless fuel or an exempt appliance. Burning wood in a smoke control area without an exempt appliance is illegal and can result in a fine.

Never burn:

• Wet or unseasoned wood — produces excessive smoke and creosote
• Treated, painted or stained wood — releases toxic fumes
• Cardboard, paper or plastic — produces sparks and toxic smoke
• Household waste of any kind
• Coal (unless your fire pit is rated for it)
• Accelerants (petrol, lighter fluid) to start or boost the fire

For gas fire pits: always use the fuel type specified by the manufacturer — typically propane (LPG) from a cylinder. Check gas connections before each use. Never use a gas fire pit indoors or in an enclosed space.

UK Regulations and Smoke Control Areas

Most UK cities and towns are designated smoke control areas under the Clean Air Act. In a smoke control area, it is illegal to emit smoke from a chimney or fire unless you are using an exempt appliance or an authorised smokeless fuel.

To check whether your address is in a smoke control area, search your postcode on your local council's website or the government's smoke control area checker. If you are in a smoke control area and want to use a wood-burning fire pit, you must use an appliance that is DEFRA-exempt and burn only authorised smokeless fuel.

Gas fire pits produce no smoke and are permitted in smoke control areas without restriction.

There are no specific planning permission requirements for a freestanding fire pit in most residential gardens, but check your lease or deeds if you're in a flat or managed development.

Safety While the Fire Is Burning

• Never leave unattended: always have a responsible adult present while the fire is burning. If you need to leave, extinguish the fire first.
• Keep children and pets at a safe distance: establish a clear boundary around the fire pit. Children should never be allowed to approach unsupervised.
• Keep water or sand nearby: always have a bucket of water or sand within reach. A garden hose connected and ready is even better.
• Use the right tools: use a poker, tongs and heat-resistant gloves to manage the fire. Never use your hands to move burning material.
• Don't overload: keep the fire to a manageable size. A large, uncontrolled fire in a small fire pit is dangerous. Add logs gradually rather than building a large fire at once.
• Seating distance: keep seating at least 1–1.5 metres from the edge of the fire pit. This is comfortable for warmth without risk of clothing catching sparks.
• Clothing: avoid loose, flowing clothing near an open fire. Natural fibres (wool, cotton) are safer than synthetics, which melt rather than char.

How to Extinguish Safely

Never leave a fire pit with embers still glowing. Embers can remain hot enough to reignite for hours after the visible flame has gone out.

The correct method: stop adding fuel at least 30–60 minutes before you want to finish. Allow the fire to burn down naturally. Once the flames are out, pour water slowly over the embers — stand back as this produces steam. Stir the embers with a poker and pour more water. Repeat until the embers are completely cold to the touch. Only then is it safe to leave the fire pit unattended.

Never: cover a fire pit with its lid while embers are still hot — this can warp the lid and trap heat. Never dispose of ash in a bin until it has been cold for at least 24 hours — ash retains heat for much longer than expected.

The Most Common Fire Pit Mistakes

Placing too close to structures. The most common and most dangerous mistake. 3 metres minimum from any structure — no exceptions.

Burning wet or treated wood. Wet wood produces excessive smoke and sparks. Treated wood releases toxic fumes. Use only dry, seasoned or kiln-dried hardwood.

Leaving the fire unattended. Even a small, apparently dying fire can reignite in wind. Never leave a lit fire pit without a responsible adult present.

Placing on decking without protection. Timber decking and artificial grass are combustible. Always use a heat-resistant mat if you have no alternative to placing the fire pit on these surfaces.

Not checking local regulations. Burning wood in a smoke control area without an exempt appliance is illegal. Check before you buy.

Disposing of ash too soon. Ash looks cold but retains heat for 24+ hours. Always wait a full day before disposing of ash in a bin.

Not having a cover. A fire pit left uncovered fills with rainwater, accelerating rust. Always cover when not in use — once completely cold.

Overloading the fire pit. A fire that's too large for the bowl is harder to control and produces more sparks. Build a manageable fire and add fuel gradually.

Maintenance and Care

After each use: once completely cold, remove ash and debris. Ash build-up restricts airflow and makes fires harder to start. Store ash in a metal container — never plastic — for at least 24 hours before disposal.

Inspect regularly: check for cracks, rust, loose parts or damage. Address rust on steel fire pits promptly with rust-inhibiting paint. A cracked cast iron fire pit should be replaced — cracks can cause the bowl to fail under heat.

Cover when not in use: a weatherproof cover prevents rainwater pooling in the bowl, which is the primary cause of rust on steel fire pits. Ensure the fire pit is completely cold before covering.

Seasonal storage: if you won't be using the fire pit over winter, clean it thoroughly, apply a light coat of cooking oil to bare metal surfaces to prevent rust, and store in a dry location or cover with a weatherproof cover.

Browse fire pits at Opal Retail.

Further reading

• How to Choose a Fire Pit for Your UK Garden
• Fire Pit vs Chiminea: Best Choice for Your Garden
• Gas vs Wood Burning Fire Pits: Pros and Cons

Frequently asked questions

How far should a fire pit be from my house?

At least 3 metres from your house, shed, fence, pergola or any other structure. This is a minimum — more distance is always safer. Also ensure there are no overhanging branches or combustible materials above the fire pit.

Can I use a fire pit on decking?

Not directly — timber decking is combustible and can be damaged or ignited by heat and sparks. If you have no alternative, use a heat-resistant fire pit mat underneath. Paving, gravel or bare earth are the safest surfaces.

What wood should I burn in a fire pit?

Dry, seasoned hardwood logs or kiln-dried logs. Hardwoods (oak, ash, beech) burn longer and produce more heat. Never burn wet wood, treated or painted wood, cardboard, plastic or household waste. In smoke control areas, use only authorised smokeless fuel in an exempt appliance.

How do I put out a fire pit safely?

Stop adding fuel 30–60 minutes before you want to finish. Allow the fire to burn down, then pour water slowly over the embers, stir with a poker and repeat until completely cold. Never cover with a lid while embers are hot. Never dispose of ash until it has been cold for at least 24 hours.

Are fire pits legal in the UK?

Yes, but in smoke control areas (most UK cities and towns) you must use an exempt appliance and authorised smokeless fuel. Check your postcode on your local council's website. Gas fire pits are permitted everywhere as they produce no smoke.