Fires: fire area preparation

Planning:

Carry out an initial risk assessment of the site and activity, identifying any constraints that need to be understood by participants, such as access points, slopes, waterlogged areas, boundaries, tool use, etc.
Use this assessment to ensure that you have competent staff and appropriate emergency procedures in place before the start of the project.
Create a plan of how the area will be developed outlining realistic timescales for completion of the different stages.

• locate and research a site
• design the fire pit and surrounding area considering constraints and project aims
• calculate resources needed to prepare, build and run the site
• clear and prepare the area
• construction of the site

Carry out a final risk assessment of the site and planned activities, and use this information to help you to safely use and maintain your fire pit area. If other groups are to use the area ensure clear site use guidelines are communicated.

Location:

When identifying a suitable site it is imperative that you gain permission to build a fire pit and to light fires from the land owner/site manager. They may also be able to offer advice about appropriate locations.

Search around your area looking for a flat open clearing. In particular look out for:

• good access & emergency evacuation – short cut to road or pick up point
• flat ground & relatively free from hazards – such as tree stumps and brambles
• over-hanging trees – if there are any over-hanging trees check they will not be damaged by the heat of the fire. It may be necessary to cut back branches. This should be done by a competent person
• plants & fauna – check that there are no rare plants or animal habitats that could be destroyed or disturbed by fire pit construction, fire use and fire-lighting activities. Consider the time of year – there may be nothing there now but what about other times of the year? Asking the woodland manager or owner to help you identify an area that will be less affected by your impact is extremely useful
• investigate the ground & soil – it is important to understand the makeup of the soil at the fire pit site. In woodlands the soil is often made up of material that could be flammable. The soil can be made up of leaf litter and partially rotted organic, carbon-rich material. This creates a peat-like soil and if care is not taken an underground fire may be started without you being aware. In general, dense soil with little air in it is less likely to catch alight. If you are unsure seek expert advice from the woodland owner or a local ranger.

Process: Cut a profile of the soil about 20-30cm deep, inspect the layers and consider if they are flammable. If the soil is dense and it is difficult to dig a profile to this depth it could be due to rocks or clay which are less flammable, in these circumstances a shallower profile may be adequate.

Basic design considerations - fire pit area:

Entry - all members of the group should enter from one side

Entry log - this seat creates a barrier to prevent individuals walking straight up to the fire pit

Direction of movement - walking behind benches prevents people from walking near or across the fire

Wind shelter - this barrier creates a wind break and stops people approaching the fire from a different direction, guiding them into the entry point

Fire exit - this exit is not used regularly – it is for emergencies

Log benches - benches are built to be the correct height to be easily stepped over by your group (should be placed two metres away from edge of fire pit)

Step over - individuals follow the direction of movement and step over the bench from behind and sit down

Fire pit see fire pit designs

Exit - each person exits from this point to avoid collisions

Safety distance - benches set at least 2m back from the edge of the fire pit.

Preparation

Clear the area. The whole fire pit area needs to be free from hazards to avoid trips, impacts and spillages. particularly if hot food or liquid is being transported.

Construction:

Mark out site - ideally mark out your site with pegs and string, or lay out sticks and logs to represent the plan. Start in the centre of your area and use a piece of string to measure the radius of the site to one of the edges. Use a stick to draw around the site keeping the string taut at all times and circling the centre point.

1. Mark fire pit starting from the centre
2. Measure out from the outside edge of the fire pit to the benches
3. Measure out from benches to the fence
4. Identify entry direction and emergency exit.

Delegate tasks - if working with a large group, delegate tasks appropriately to competent instructors working with small groups.

Fire pit - clear soil to chosen depth (depending on soil type). Shore up sides with rocks or bricks. Create flat pan-stands next to the pit if required. These can be very useful when cooking. Hot pans placed on uneven surfaces may tip and spill contents.

Fence making - agree a shape and construction method. Collect resources required. Cut poles using safe sawing and cutting techniques and correct PPE (Personal Protective Equipment).

Bench making - agree shape and construction method. Collect resources required. Cut logs using safe sawing techniques and PPE. Place benches in the allocated places a safe distance from the edge of the fire pit.

Bag and coat store - to prevent bags and coats being left near the fire creating fire and trip hazards – allocate a position for all bags and coats to be hung or placed when not in use, preferably outside the fenced area.

First aid point - specify a position where the burns first aid kit and emergency water are to be permanently located when the site is in use.

Handy hints:

Fire pit development can happen over the duration of a project. Once the essentials have been put in, different parts can be added as and when you want.

Partnerships - if your group is not at a stage to be able to build their own fire pit, try to locate other projects locally where older groups may come to your site to construct a fire pit area for you. Consider running a parents’ training day to get parents involved and interested in the project. This can be particularly useful for engaging fathers and often results in higher numbers of parent helpers offering to help in the future. This training could be an excellent way to address fears about fire-lighting and allow parents to experience the benefits of building a fire area and then using it.

Store wood in a dry place - for the next fire-lighting session.

Suitable materials - it is important to use suitable rocks or bricks. If they contain water the rocks may explode or split if subjected to intense heat.

Seeking advice - the woodland owner or manager is the first person to contact, then local groups such as conservation groups, wildlife trusts, forestry commission and local woodland rangers at the council.

Fire pit options:

Our guidelines on fire area design highlight important considerations, however, due to the constraints of your site and the aims of your project, you might not include everything discussed in this guide. Your design may have a very different shape or approach routes to suit your theme or site. These guidelines highlight safety issues that should be considered and adapted for any design of fire area. Follow this link for more information on fire pit designs.

If you have built a sunken pit, due to the surface soil being flammable, an outer safety ring is recommended. Remove flammable leaf litter from around your border rocks to create an air gap of 10cm. The gap between the border and the safety ring can be left empty or filled with gravel to make the area more stable.

Take it further:

Read our fire safety guide and how to create and maintain a fire.