Last Updated on September 30, 2026 by iMichigan Insurance Editorial Team
Fall Fire Pit Safety Tips for Michigan Homeowners
Cool evenings, changing leaves, and a backyard fire pit can make fall one of the best times to spend outside in Michigan. However, a fire that seems small and controlled can become dangerous when it is too close to a home, surrounded by dry leaves, or left unattended.
Whether you have a permanent stone fire pit, a portable metal fire pit, or a simple backyard campfire area, a few precautions can help reduce the chance of burns, property damage, and an accidental fire.
Quick Answer:
Place your fire pit on a stable, noncombustible surface and well away from your home, deck, trees, and anything that can burn. Keep water or another appropriate extinguishing method nearby, never leave the fire unattended, avoid using a fire pit on windy days, and check your local Michigan fire and burning rules before lighting it.
Why Fall Fire Pit Safety Matters in Michigan
Fall can create an especially challenging environment for outdoor fires. Leaves, grass, landscaping, and other vegetation can become dry enough to ignite from a spark or windblown ember.
Michigan’s Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy recommends keeping a shovel and water source nearby whenever you burn, never leaving a fire unattended, and avoiding burning on windy days because embers can carry into dry grass and leaves.
Fire safety around your property should extend beyond the backyard. Our Michigan fire safety guide covers additional steps homeowners can take to help reduce fire hazards throughout the home.
How Far Should a Fire Pit Be From Your House?
No single distance applies to every Michigan community, fire pit design, or property. Your local ordinance and the manufacturer’s instructions should always take priority.
As a general safety principle, provide plenty of open space between the fire and your house, garage, shed, fence, deck, trees, shrubs, and other combustible materials. Do not place a fire pit underneath a roof overhang, low tree branches, an awning, or another structure that could be exposed to flames, heat, or rising embers.
Before choosing a location:
Check the fire pit manufacturer’s clearance requirements and your city, township, or village rules. A local ordinance may require more clearance or prohibit certain types of outdoor fires.
What Should You Put Under a Fire Pit?
A fire pit should sit on a stable surface designed to handle heat. Pavers, brick, stone, concrete, or another manufacturer-approved noncombustible surface are generally better choices than grass, leaves, wood, or other combustible materials.
Portable fire pits can become extremely hot underneath. Don’t assume legs or a raised design make a fire pit safe for every surface.
If you are considering using a fire pit on a wood or composite deck, check both the fire pit manufacturer’s instructions and the deck manufacturer’s requirements first. Some fire pits are not designed for deck use at all.
Clear Away Fall Leaves Before Lighting the Fire
Those colorful fall leaves can become fire fuel once they dry out. Before lighting your fire pit, clear leaves, pine needles, dead grass, twigs, and other combustible debris from the surrounding area.
Do not forget to look beyond the immediate edge of the fire pit. A windblown ember can travel farther than you might expect, especially when dry leaves have accumulated along fences, landscaping beds, decks, or your home’s foundation.
Do Not Use a Fire Pit on a Windy Day
Wind can turn a controlled backyard fire into a much larger problem. It can increase fire intensity and carry sparks or hot embers into leaves, grass, trees, neighboring property, or structures.
If the wind picks up after you start the fire, consider extinguishing it rather than waiting for conditions to worsen.
Keep Fire Extinguishing Equipment Nearby
Don’t wait until something catches fire to figure out how you’ll extinguish it. Have a water source, hose, or other appropriate extinguishing equipment close enough to reach quickly.
A properly selected fire extinguisher can also be useful around the home. Our guide to Michigan fire safety tools explains several items homeowners can consider keeping readily available.
Never Leave a Fire Pit Unattended
Someone should remain responsible for the fire from the time it is lit until it has been completely extinguished.
Going inside for a few minutes or assuming that a dying fire no longer needs supervision can be risky. Coals and embers can stay hot even after the visible flames disappear.
Keep children and pets at a safe distance. Establishing a clear boundary around the fire pit can help prevent someone from accidentally getting too close to the flames or hot surfaces.
What Should You Burn in a Backyard Fire Pit?
Use clean, dry firewood appropriate for your fire pit. Avoid creating an oversized fire simply because the fire pit can hold more wood.
Never use gasoline or another highly flammable liquid to start or restart a fire.
Michigan also prohibits open burning of household trash containing materials such as plastic, rubber, foam, chemically treated wood, textiles, electronics, chemicals, and hazardous materials. These materials can release harmful pollutants when burned.
Can You Burn Leaves in a Fire Pit in Michigan?
Don’t assume you can legally burn fall leaves just because you have a backyard fire pit.
Michigan treats the burning of leaves and yard waste differently from a recreational campfire. State rules restrict open burning of leaves and yard waste in certain areas, and local governments may adopt additional restrictions.
According to Michigan EGLE, open burning of grass clippings and leaves is prohibited in municipalities with populations of 7,500 or more unless a qualifying local ordinance specifically authorizes it. Other state air-quality restrictions can also apply.
The safest approach is simple: check with your city, township, or village before burning leaves or other yard debris. Composting or using a local yard-waste collection program is often a better alternative.
Do You Need a Burn Permit for a Fire Pit in Michigan?
A recreational campfire generally does not require a Michigan DNR burn permit. That does not mean you can automatically have a recreational fire anywhere or at any time.
Local ordinances can restrict or prohibit outdoor burning, and rules for burning leaves, brush, and other yard debris are different from rules for a recreational fire.
Michigan residents should check with their local city, township, village, or fire department before burning. Residents in areas covered by the DNR burn permit system can also check current burning conditions through the state’s burn permit website.
Important Michigan distinction:
A recreational fire and burning a pile of fall leaves or yard debris are not necessarily treated the same way. Always check the rules that apply to what you intend to burn and where you live.
Keep Chairs and Guests Away From the Flames
Arrange seating far enough from the fire so guests don’t have to move close to the flames. Avoid positioning chairs where someone could trip into the fire pit when getting up or walking through the area after dark.
Fall blankets, cushions, and outdoor decorations can also burn. Keep them far enough away that they cannot contact the fire or catch a spark.
Be Careful With Loose Clothing
Fall often means sweaters, jackets, scarves, and blankets. Loose clothing can accidentally get too close to a flame while someone adds wood, roasts food, or moves around the fire.
Avoid reaching across an active fire and supervise children closely if they are roasting marshmallows or food.
Do Not Move a Hot Portable Fire Pit
If a portable fire pit turns out to be in a poor location after the fire has started, do not attempt to pick it up and move it while it is hot.
Extinguish the fire and wait until the unit has completely cooled before relocating it. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for handling ashes and cleaning the fire pit.
How to Put Out a Fire Pit Safely
Let the fire burn down well before you plan to go inside. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for extinguishing your particular fire pit.
For a wood-burning fire, you may use water to extinguish the remaining fire and embers thoroughly. Stir the ashes carefully and make sure everything is fully extinguished before leaving the area.
Never place hot ashes in a plastic trash container or cardboard box or near combustible materials. Ashes can retain enough heat to start a fire long after the flames have disappeared.
What About Propane and Natural Gas Fire Pits?
Gas fire pits eliminate some of the sparks and embers associated with burning wood, but they still produce substantial heat and open flame.
Follow the manufacturer’s installation, ventilation, and clearance instructions. Inspect hoses, fittings, and connections as recommended, and never operate a gas fire pit if you smell gas or suspect a leak.
Turn off the gas supply when the fire pit is not in use according to the manufacturer’s directions.
Fire Pit Safety Checklist Before You Light It
- Check local Michigan outdoor burning rules.
- Review the fire pit manufacturer’s instructions.
- Make sure the fire pit is well away from structures and combustible materials.
- Look overhead for branches, awnings, and roof overhangs.
- Clear dry leaves and vegetation from the surrounding area.
- Check the wind and weather conditions.
- Keep water or other appropriate extinguishing equipment nearby.
- Use clean, appropriate fuel.
- Keep children and pets away from the fire.
- Keep chairs, blankets, and decorations at a safe distance.
- Never leave the fire unattended.
- Completely extinguish the fire before going inside.
Think Beyond the Fire Pit
A backyard fire is also a good reminder to review your overall home fire plan. Make sure smoke alarms are working, family members know how to get out of the home during a fire, and everyone knows where to meet outside.
If your household has not reviewed its plan recently, our family emergency escape plan guide can help you get started.
Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Fire Pit Damage?
Homeowners insurance may cover certain accidental fire losses, but coverage depends on the circumstances of the loss, your policy, and its exclusions and limits.
Liability coverage may also become important if a fire causes covered property damage or injury to someone else. However, insurance should never replace following local ordinances, manufacturer instructions, and basic fire safety practices.
If you have installed a permanent outdoor fire feature or made other significant improvements to your property, it can be a good time to review your homeowners coverage and make sure your policy information remains current.
Michigan Fire Pit Safety FAQs
How far should a fire pit be from a house?
Provide substantial clearance from your home and anything combustible. The exact distance may depend on the fire pit manufacturer’s instructions and your local fire code or ordinance. Check both rather than relying on a single distance for every property.
What is the safest surface for a fire pit?
A stable, noncombustible surface such as properly constructed stone, brick, pavers, or concrete is generally preferable to dry grass, leaves, or wood. Follow the fire pit manufacturer’s installation requirements.
Can I put a fire pit on my deck?
Do not assume a fire pit is safe for a wood or composite deck. Some products prohibit deck use. Check the fire pit instructions, deck manufacturer’s guidance, and local fire rules before using any fire feature on a deck.
Do I need a burn permit for a backyard fire pit in Michigan?
The Michigan DNR says a burn permit isn’t required for cooking and recreational campfires, but local ordinances and other restrictions can still apply. Burning leaves, brush, and yard debris is regulated differently, so check with your local government before burning.
Can I burn leaves in my fire pit in Michigan?
Not necessarily. Michigan restricts open burning of leaves and yard waste, and local ordinances can be more restrictive. Check with your city, township, or village before burning fall leaves.
Should I use a fire pit when it is windy?
It is safer to wait for calmer conditions. Wind can carry sparks and embers into dry leaves, grass, trees, structures, and neighboring property.
Can I burn treated lumber in a fire pit?
Avoid burning chemically treated or painted wood. Michigan restricts burning household waste containing chemically treated wood and other materials that can release harmful pollutants.
Can a fire pit cause a homeowners insurance claim?
A fire that spreads from a fire pit can result in property damage or injuries that may lead to an insurance claim. Whether a particular loss is covered depends on the policy and circumstances, so homeowners should review their individual coverage.
Michigan Fire and Open Burning Resources
Before starting an outdoor fire, check current guidance from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources Burn Permit system. You can also review Michigan EGLE’s open burning information for rules about leaves, yard debris, household waste, and other materials.
Remember:
Michigan communities can have outdoor burning rules that are more restrictive than statewide requirements. Check with your local city, township, village, or fire department before lighting a backyard fire.
Enjoy Michigan Fall Evenings Safely
A backyard fire pit can be a great place to enjoy a cool Michigan evening with family and friends. The best setup is simple: plenty of space around the fire, a clean noncombustible surface, calm weather, responsible supervision, and a reliable way to put the fire out.
Taking a few minutes to prepare before lighting the fire can help keep a relaxing fall evening from becoming an emergency.
Have You Reviewed Your Michigan Home Insurance?
Your home changes over time, and your insurance needs can change with it. If it has been a while since you reviewed your homeowners coverage, we can help you take another look.
