It would be best never to burn anything other than wood or charcoal. Using the fire pit to burn anything other than the fuel it was built for (wood, charcoal, or gas) is not a good idea. It is not only harmful but it is also prohibited for some materials. At the same time, you may burn almost anything in your fire pit, which is not a wise act.
Rubber, old paper, plastics, trash bags, and other rubbish should not be burned. Some goods can emit toxins or pollutants into the air and frequently emit an unpleasant odor. Toxins emitted during combustion are extremely difficult to detect.
Even if you don’t notice a difference in the color or fragrance of the smoke, you could be exposing family members or yourself to gases that can cause cancer or other ailments if inhaled over an extended period. Some poisons may also be left as ash residues, making them hazardous to handle.
Dangerous Things to Avoid Burning in Fire Pit
While you may burn almost anything in your fire pit, this is not an intelligent idea. Burning other things except fuel will cause the fire pit to malfunction. Also, remember that, in gas fire pits, you can not burn anything other than the gas. And it is essential for your safety.
Here are five dangerous things which you should avoid while bringing it:
1. Poison ivy, poison oak, or sumac:
Be extremely cautious while collecting wood from someone else’s property, as it may have poison ivy vines twisted around it. These are more difficult to notice in the winter since their leaves have fallen off, but the deadly oils are still active.
2. Paper and Newspapers:
You may assume that magazines and newspapers are safe to burn because they are paper-based. The difficulty is that when burned, the ink used on them emits harmful chemicals. For instance, the gloss on magazines’ pages is frequently plastic-based.
3. Trash:
Rubber, old paper, plastics, trash bags, and other rubbish should not be burned. Some goods can emit toxins or pollutants into the air and frequently emit an unpleasant odor. Hopefully, you have the judgment not to throw dangerous goods like batteries and aerosol cans directly into the flames. However, if you have a history of burning garbage bags, these materials may be hidden and cause injury.
4. Gasoline or lighter fluid:
We understand how tempting it is to play pyro and start a big blaze with the help of an accelerant. However, this type of fire can quickly become out of control, damaging property and injuring people.
5. Cardboard
This may come as a surprise, but cardboard is another object you should avoid burning in your fire pit. One of the reasons is that, once again, the ink used on the boxes emits hazardous chemical fumes when burned. The other major issue is that because cardboard burns so quickly, it might generate an unforeseen surge in your fire, which can be deadly, especially if many people gather around it.
Apart from the above materials, avoid burning food waste, cans, or packages in the fire.
What Types of Things are Safe to Burn in Fire Pit?
Wood will always be the most incredible material to burn in your fire pit. And the wood you use depends on your location and availability. There are different types of safe wood materials with incentives. For example, apple, cherry, and pecan woods emit a pleasant aroma when burned. Pinion wood will keep mosquitos away. Oak, hickory, and mesquite burn well and provide a lot of heat. Also, for cooking, you can use charcoal or charcoal and wood together to have a different experience.
Safe Materials You Can Burn in a Fire Pit:
Wood bricks:
It consists of kiln-dried wood, super-condensed wood bricks, recycled wood chips, and sawdust. They provide more heat than logs and are always lower moisture, cleaner burning, and high-quality product. If you are concerned about the environment and want to burn green, this is best for you.
Alder:
It is a deciduous hardwood tree found primarily on North America’s west coast. Alder is well-known for its ability to produce high-quality charcoal.
Cedar:
This one is softwood with a high natural resin content. Resin-rich wood burns hot and sometimes erupts into sparks or flaming wood fragments because the resin is highly flammable. Cedar will produce powerful flames for a short time before dying swiftly with minimal coaling qualities.
Pinion wood:
This is a dense, slow-growing hardwood pine in the southwest United States’ mountains. Pinion wood has a smokey pine scent and is a natural insect repellent.
Mesquite:
Mesquite firewood burns cleanly and produces little sparks. It makes a hot, long-lasting fire. Mesquite trees grow predominantly in the southwestern United States and northern Mexico.
Oak:
Oak is a thick hardwood with a more excellent energy content per strand and a higher heat release per firebox load. It also generates long-term fires and coal beds. Oak trees thrive in temperate and tropical climates and grow in Asia and North America.
Pecan:
Pecan wood is native to southern Illinois and Indiana, as well as much of the south of the United States between Kentucky and Texas. Pecan wood may not produce as much heat as other woods, but it emits a nice pecan nut and vanilla aroma when burned.
Hickory:
It is one of the most popular woods for fire pits. It burns hotter than the majority of hardwoods, including oak. It is a very durable wood found in the United States.
Applewood:
This one is the most challenging wood to light and keeps burning. If you succeed, the fire burns slowly and for a long time while giving off a lot of sweet scents.
Charcoal:
Charcoal is one of the ancient fuels of the united states, produced by burning in an oxygen-deprived area. They burn for a long time and create a considerable amount of heat.
Conclusion
Fire can be bewildering and dangerous, both a the same time. Understanding the risks of burning hazardous things in a fire pit is essential for your safety. Also, It is better if you are familiar with all types of materials you can burn safely. Always be careful, never compromise with security, and don’t stop enjoying the exciting fire evenings!
