Hosting the best summer bonfires starts with choosing the right firewood.
Bonfires are a favorite pastime that can also keep you warm during late summer nights. Summer is almost over, and those nights will soon turn cooler as we head into the fall. But when you’re looking to host the best summer bonfires, you’re going to want to keep a few things in mind. For instance, carefully choose the type of firewood you want to use. You should also be aware of some fire safety tips to keep everyone safe and happy during your next bonfire. Read up on how to pick the best wood for a bonfire before you get started on building one.
Firewood Types
How long do you want your bonfire to last? Keep in mind that different types of firewood have different burn times. Softer woods such as pine, spruce, and cedar are easier to light; once they light they also give off a wonderful scent, which you can enjoy while listening to the snapping, popping, and crackling sound effect you would expect from the best bonfire. But soft woods don’t burn for long. Instead, you should choose hardwood; some species to consider include oak, almond, or citrus. If you can’t choose one particular type of hardwood, you might be interested in the mixed hardwood firewood available from Lehnhoff’s Landscaping. While hardwoods are harder to ignite, you will be pleased with how much longer they will keep burning once they do light up.
Fire Safety Tips
Once you have chosen the right type of firewood and have gotten your fire started, the next important step in throwing the summer’s best bonfire is fire safety. Here are some particularly helpful pointers for when you’re setting up your outdoor fire, whether in a bonfire or a fire pit:
- Find a safe place to build your fire. The safest minimum distance for a bonfire is 50 feet from the closest building, which is a far cry from the distance for a fire pit; fire pits only need to be 10 feet from the closest building. But whenever you’re building a bonfire or lighting up a fire pit, it’s better to be safe than sorry; be mindful of possible fire hazards.
- Give your outdoor fire plenty of room to burn. Don’t build it underneath a covered porch or tree branches. You should also make sure that utility cables and power lines are not above the open fire, either. Concrete or patio pavers are a safe choice to use for a surface base. Don’t build your fire on grass or a wooden deck, or anything else that can burn.
- Use a circle or ring of stones to help contain the fire.
- Keep water, shovels, and fire extinguishers on hand, just in case.
Firewood, Delivered with Lehnhoff’s Landscaping
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