Outdoor Fireplaces - Fun and Versatile

An outdoor fireplace is something that is nice for a lot of campers or even backyards. However, using these fireplaces is not always quite as easy as it may seem. There are a few things that anybody who plans to use one of these fireplaces should remember before building a fire. Some of the things that need to be remembered include:

• Keep a distance - A fireplace should be kept a fair distance away from a home. The farther, the better. But if a person does not have a lot of room to work with, he should try to keep the fireplace at least 10 feet away from the home. This will help to make sure that a strong wind does not blow the fire toward the home and cause the home to catch fire.

It is best if the fireplace can be kept at least 10 feet away from almost everything. By digging up plants and trees and laying down sand in a 10-foot radius around the fireplace, a person can help ensure that nothing around the fireplace will inadvertently catch fire because of flying embers or strong winds.

• Use a screen - If embers are still a concern, a screen can be used on the fireplace to eliminate the embers that are prone to fly in the air. Because a person may need to handle this cover from time to time, it is a good idea to have some gloves with heavy insulation so he or she can touch the cover if he or she needs to.

• Safety first - Any time a person is using fire, it is important that he has something nearby to make sure the fire will be extinguished quickly if a situation were to arise. For most people, having something as simple as a bucket of water or a garden hose nearby could be enough. A fire extinguisher is also another item that could be worthwhile to have around.

If there is a problem with a fireplace that uses gas, it is important to remember that the fire can only be put out if it is smothered. Throwing water on a gas fire only gives it more oxygen and causes it to burn more.

• Dry wood burns best - Being around an outdoor fireplace is not always pleasant when the wood being used is damp. Damp wood creates more smoke. Most people who are trying to simply enjoy an evening around a campfire do not appreciate a lot of smoke floating in the air around them.

In order to minimize the amount of smoke created, it is recommended to use dry woods. Oak and hickory are both dry woods that do not create a lot of smoke when burnt. Some people choose to use a manufactured burning log instead of firewood because they also do not emit a lot of smoke.

• Put it out - After the fire has been snuffed out, remember to take a bucket of water to pour over the outdoor fireplace. This will ensure that there is nothing still burning that could cause problems later.

Anne Clarke writes numerous articles for Web sites on gardening, parenting, fashion, and home decor. Her background also includes teaching, gardening, and fashion. For more of her useful articles on outdoor fireplaces, please visit [http://www.outdoor-fireplace.net/]Outdoor Brick Fireplaces.

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