A neighbor's patio fire in Denver made me rethink my whole setup

I was at a friend's house in Denver last fall, and we were all hanging out on his new stone patio. He had this big metal fire pit going, and it was a great night. Then a gust of wind sent a huge ember flying right onto his wooden deck railing. We had to dump a whole pitcher of water on it to stop it from catching. It was scary for a minute. Now I'm totally split on fire pits. On one side, they're the best part of a cool evening outside. On the other, that close call showed me they can be a real risk if you don't have the right space. I'm thinking about switching to a gas fire table for safety, but it just doesn't feel the same. Has anyone else had a scare that made them change their backyard fire plans?

2 comments

2 Comments

the_stella1d ago

Yikes, that's a real wake-up call! We had a similar thing happen with a spark landing in some dry mulch. It made me get serious about a proper non-flammable base, like gravel or pavers, for a good distance all around the pit. That gas vs wood debate is tough though, isn't it? The gas ones are definitely safer for tight spaces, but you're right, they lack that crackle and smell. What kind of space are you working with around your deck?

webb.ben1d ago

Wait, a spark actually landed in your mulch and started something? That's terrifying! @the_stella is totally right about needing that non-flammable base, no question. Makes the gas vs wood choice way harder for smaller spots.