Backyard fire pits help create atmosphere, spark conversation

METRO DETROIT — It’s a summertime tradition: sitting around a backyard bonfire while toasting marshmallows with your family or having a few cocktails with neighbors.

With the ambiance of a fire pit, memories are made, bonds are formed and laughter is contagious.

An outdoor fire pit also can be a cozy way for couples to enjoy a romantic evening together.

The main options for fueling a backyard fire pit are wood, propane and natural gas. Some gas fire pits can be started with an electric ignition, where you basically push a button to turn it on. When choosing a fire pit, it’s about aesthetics, preference, budgeting and safety.

Sara Filthaut, owner of KayBrook Design in Birmingham, said fire pits have always been popular but have grown in popularity because there are more styles, sizes and choices available. While there are still traditional-looking fire pits, portable and freestanding versions are now popping up.

“The designs over time have come so far, and there are so many different options,” Filthaut said. “There are different shapes: rectangular, round, square and linear. We have seen an uptick in fire pits in different finishes, colors and materials.”

Fire bowls, too, have caught on. A fire bowl operates like a fire pit but is bowl-shaped and creates a warm and inviting space that brings about a certain mood. Some fire pits are low to the ground, but Filthaut also has customers who are in the market for fire pits in a table setting. Another current trend is a fire pit that looks like concrete but is actually lightweight. Adding lava rocks, too, can produce a decorative setting.

When shopping for a fire pit, Filthaut suggests first deciding how you want to use your backyard space.

“That will guide you into what type of fire pit you want,” she said. “You have to think about furniture placement.”

Keep in mind if you’ll be having guests over to enjoy the bonfire and how many.

“For smaller gatherings, a 24-inch fire pit would work,” Filthaut said. “If you like entertaining, you’ll need a 36 or 48 inches.”

Filthaut said customers usually begin shopping for backyard furniture, including fire pits, in March and April to prepare for the summer.

“In Michigan, we’re trying to make good use of the weather to be outside,” she said.

When having a backyard bonfire, it’s important to remember several safety rules. For starters, when purchasing a fire pit, it’s suggested to make sure the style you buy is in compliance with the Underwriters Laboratories and has the UL label imprinted on it.

It’s also essential to use fire pits properly and in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendations. Make sure your city or township allows fire pits and, if so, check the local ordinance for guidance, including what materials you can burn.

Eastpointe, for instance, permits open burning, but several rules must be followed. The fire pit needs to have a lid on it, and while the lid can be grated, it cannot have large holes in it.

“The lid keeps the sparks to a minimum,” said Eastpointe Fire Chief Brian Marquardt, adding that backyard fire pits in the city need to be 15 feet away from any building, including houses, garages and sheds.

Remember to place your fire pit on a noncombustible surface. Also, in Eastpointe, residents cannot hold bonfires in the front of the house, only in the backyard. But again, check with your local government about what is permitted.

“You can only burn hardwood you bought. It has got to be hardwood,” Marquardt said. “No scrap wood, no tree trimmings, no leaves. That’s when the fires can get out of hand and cause excessive smoke.”

And too much smoke could be a nuisance to neighbors.

“If we get a complaint, we check it out,” Marquardt said.   

Also in Eastpointe, residents must either have a fire extinguisher or hose nearby in case of emergency. It’s also a good idea to have sand or dirt handy when having a bonfire. Never leave a bonfire unattended.

“There must be an adult constantly attending it,” Marquardt said.

Also, it’s not a good idea to use a fire pit when there hasn’t been rain and the ground is dry or when it’s too windy.

Kristen Doetzkies, of St. Clair Shores, grew up around bonfires.

“It’s such a staple in our family,” she said. “There was always some sort of campfire. You didn’t want to just sit inside.”

Doetzkies currently has two fire pits that get plenty of use. One she received as a gift and shares with her sister, Stefanie, who lives next door. Doetzkies made the second fire pit with supplies from Home Depot. She always keeps safety in mind, especially when children are around.

“We make sure they are always supervised,” she said.   

Sipping on hot chocolate or warming up with a cup of coffee around the fire pit is always part of Christmas Day for Doetzkies, her boyfriend, and family and friends. The bonfire looks especially festive with Christmas lights on in the background.

“It’s a fun atmosphere. People love it,”  Doetzkies said. “It’s just lightweight conversation. There’s some reminiscing.”

It was also an ideal way to social distance during the COVID-19 restrictions. Doetzkies’ fire pits get just as much use during the summer as in the winter.

“We make s’mores and are more likely to have some beers,” she said. “It’s such an ancient tradition. There’s something so primitive about getting together with people and catching up. It brings people in over the course of a few hours.”