I know you�ve already felt it: a cool settling into the summer night and the dimming of our trusty blue sky coming earlier and earlier. With summer too quickly reaching a close and cool Autumn on its way, it�s time to spark up the fireplace, and brace ourselves for chilly and chillier temps. But don�t start batting down the hatches yet! With the ever-increasing popularity of outdoor fire pits, you can stretch the summer and fall nights out in comfort, and enjoy the beauty of nature a little longer, and a lot warmer!
Unfortunately, smoke is an avoidable part of the process when it comes to wood burning fire pits. Though difficult to control, try to keep away from and the direction in which the smoke is blowing and inhaling its fumes for obvious reasons. Smoke is a carcinogen and is especially harmful to individuals with respiratory ailments, including asthma. Some models of fire pit do actually come with a wind break which helps to control the amount of and direction in which smoke wafts.� Ensure you place your portable fire pit at least ten feet from the house, backyard miscellaneous, and trees i.e anything combustible. Also, with portable fire pits, it is necessary that you gauge the placement according to wind patterns and where the smoke will, therefore, be blowing.� Wood or Gas?The most authentic type for a true camping, outdoorsy experience, wood burning fire pits are the way to go. They�re also, however, the hardest to control, and for this reason there should be basic steps taken to assure your safety. To differentiate, the most rudimentary of fire pits are handmade and consist of a dirt circle surrounded by stones. Models for purchase are more varied in design, and some, like the popular chiminea, come with chimneys. In any case, attention is the most important factor when burning wood. Do not leave open fires unattended for an extended period of time.Davy's Fried Fish Shop in the pit village at Beamish Museum, County Durham, uses the last coal-fired frying range to have survived on Tyneside.Brothers Brian and Ramsay Davy were guests at a preview frying at Beamish, where the first portion of cod and chips went to museum director Richard Evans.When finding the right spot to put your pit, there are several factors to consider. If you�re in an urban or home setting, do not place fire pits onto wooden decks or patios. Rather, keep them on stone masonry or concrete floors whenever possible. In any case, make sure fire pits are away from low-lying branches, eaves and overhangs. Especially windy days are not good for fire pits, as embers may fly and the fire pit itself might take a tumble. Also, when setting up, be sure to clear away any dry leaves, twigs and other foliage in the area in the event of flying sparks catching them on fire. Whenever possible, use a spark screen, especially when handling young wood and saplings, whose logs tend to crackle more the greener they are.The Winlaton Mill chippie was built in 1937 by the brothers' grandfather John, and their parents Isabella and Robert took over the business in the 1950s. The family always used beef dripping for frying, and that will continue at the Beamish shop, which will be serving seven days a week.� Costs?PlacementStarting Your Fire� Ensure your permanent is installed a good distance from your home and anything combustible (typically your installer will automatically enlist this common sense issue, but if not, ensure that it has a good ten feet clearance).� Don�t overfill your firepit with wood or wood substitute; or conversely, over-gas. Keep the fire small, contained and manageable.Wood PitsToolsFire ExtinguishersBefore you even start researching outdoor fire pits, you must first check the city or zone ordinance to make sure they allow fire pits, what type of fire pits, and what the safety parameters are. Once this is done, your first step is deciding whether you could most benefit from a portable fire pit or one that is permanent. Portable fire pits are typically fashioned out of lightweight metal (Mexican chimneas are made of clay or cast-iron) and have a round design. These come with wheels for easy on-the-go activity as well as patio or backyard use. With this versatility, you can move your fire pit to the deck, patio, different areas of the backyard, or the garage with ease. Another priceless bonus, is that you don�t have to leave the toasty warmth at home. Pack it into the truck or suv for the annual camping trip or take it on the road to a tailgating party. Because portables are made of lighter materials and require no-installation for use, they are the most cost-effective, no-hassle way to fight the post-summer chill: both on the road and in your backyard. The permanent fire pit (or specifically-engineered backyard or patio fire pit), otherwise known as a custom-built or stationary fire pit unit, is made from stone, brick, rock, or concrete; and to most, are the more asthetically-pleasing addition to a patio or backyard. Custom-built fire pits should rise 1-2 feet off the ground and have a middle-of-the-road diameter of approximately 36 inches for ample use and safety. Like portables, you can choose between wood or gas to heat the desired area, but most products are energy-specific, so be sure to double-check before buying. All in all, custom-built fire pits are much more expensive, due to professional installation, the attention to design, and the heavy-duty long-lasting materials needed; but will last you lifetimes (with proper and regular maintenance), and undoubtedly provide an equity boost in your home�s value.SmokeWe all love a good fire, but it is crucial to remember that it is a fire; and if we don�t take the proper safety precautions and adhere to specific fire hazards, your fire pit could rage out of control, leading to property damage, sickness, and possibly death.
� It is also a must to get a fire extinguisher, because you are playing with fire, otherwise.
Author: Desmona Fratere
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