There is nothing like a crackling fire on your back deck, right up until a stray ember lands on your prized cedar planks. To keep a fire pit safe on a deck or patio, put it on a level, non-combustible surface, keep it at least 10 feet from anything that can burn, keep it out from under eaves and branches, and never leave the flames unattended. I love that my Arteflame grill doubles as a backyard fire pit, but whether you use heavy steel or a portable bowl, you have to respect the heat. Let's make sure the only thing getting toasted tonight is your marshmallows.
The Quick Take
NFPA and the U.S. Fire Administration both say to use fire pits outdoors, at least 10 feet from anything that can burn, and to keep them away from siding, decks and deck railings and out from under eaves and overhanging branches. A patio of concrete, brick or pavers is the right place for a fire pit. A wooden or composite deck is not, unless your fire pit's manual and your deck maker both allow it with a heat barrier, and some towns ban fire pits on decks outright. Keep a hose, a bucket of water or a shovel with sand nearby, burn only dry, seasoned hardwood, and put cooled ashes in a metal can with a tight lid.
Key Facts at a Glance
| Safety factor | Guideline |
|---|---|
| Clearance | At least 10 feet from anything that can burn (NFPA, USFA) |
| Overhead | Nothing overhead: no eaves, roofs, branches or umbrellas. Breeo, for example, asks for at least 10 feet of open space above its pits. |
| Base | Level, non-combustible: patio blocks, brick or concrete |
| Wooden or composite decks | Only if the fire pit and deck makers allow it, with a heat barrier; check local rules |
| Kids and pets | At least 3 feet from the fire (NFPA) |
| Firewood | Dry, seasoned hardwood such as oak, hickory or ash |
| On hand | Hose, bucket of water, or shovel with dirt or sand; a fire extinguisher |
Setting Up for a Safe Burn
On a wooden or composite deck, the danger is not only flying embers. A metal fire pit sends heat down into the surface under it, which can scorch, warp or ignite the deck. Composite boards can soften at temperatures as low as 176°F, and Trex says wood-burning fire pits should not sit directly on its decking without a heat barrier. Fire pit makers draw the line in different places: Breeo says never to use its X Series on wooden or composite decks without its own Base, and Solo Stove says deck use is at your own risk. So the safest answer is simple: build the fire on the patio, not the deck.
If you have an Arteflame, the base matters. Our tall Euro base and the tall round base of the Classic 40 hold the fire well above the floor, and the tall round base has an ash catcher so ash never touches the deck. Low bases work like fire pits and send heat down, so we don't recommend them on wooden or composite decks. Under any Arteflame on a flammable surface, we recommend stone or concrete tiles or a grill mat.
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Check your local rules: call your fire department's non-emergency line or check your city's website. Some towns ban portable fire pits on wooden or composite decks, and burn bans can apply on dry, windy days.
- Choose the spot: pick a level, non-combustible surface at least 10 feet from your house, deck railings, fences, furniture and plants. Look up: there should be no eaves, awnings, umbrellas or branches over the fire.
- Read the manual: follow your fire pit's instructions for surfaces, spark screens and clearances. If it allows deck use with a base or heat barrier, use exactly what it specifies.
- Light it cleanly: stack dry, seasoned hardwood. For an Arteflame or fire bowl, pour a little vegetable oil on three paper napkins, place them in the center of the pit, stack your firewood over them, and light the paper. Skip lighter fluid.
- Keep it small and supervised: add one log at a time, use a spark screen if your fire pit has one, and never leave the fire unattended.
- Put it out completely: stop adding wood well before you go inside. Some steel fire pits, including Breeo and Solo Stove, say not to pour water into them, so follow your manual. Make sure the fire is out, then put the cooled ashes in a metal container with a tight-fitting lid.
Pro tip: never use water on a grease fire. If you cooked burgers over the flames before turning the grill into a fire pit, smother any grease flare-up with sand or a fire extinguisher, not water.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Using wet or unseasoned wood: green wood smokes and pops, throwing embers across your deck. Stick to dry, seasoned hardwood.
- Trusting the legs: "it's probably fine, the fire pit has legs" is how decks get scorched. Heat still reaches the boards. Use a patio, or the base or heat barrier your manual specifies.
- Setting up under a cover: a pergola, awning, roofline or patio umbrella over the fire can catch fire. Keep the sky open above it.
- Wearing synthetic clothing: fleece and nylon melt when a spark lands on them. Wear cotton or wool, and use long-handled OXO tongs to adjust a log.
- Leaving the fire unattended: "I'm just running inside for a second" is the start of every patio disaster. If the fire is lit, an adult stays with it.
- No extinguisher at hand: keep a multi-purpose extinguisher, such as one from First Alert, and a hose or bucket nearby.
Make It Your Own
Once the safety basics are locked down, you can make the fire pit the center of the evening.
- The chef's fire: cook on it. On an Arteflame, the center grate over the fire passes 1,000°F for searing, while the steel cooktop runs about 450–550°F toward the inner edge and 250–350°F toward the outer edge.
- The s'mores station: set up a table away from the fire with graham crackers, chocolate and extra-long metal roasting sticks, and keep kids and pets at least 3 feet from the flames.
- The paver hearth: if your patio is gravel or grass, build a permanent pad of stone pavers or concrete for a built-in safe zone.
- The stone border: a ring of river rock around the safe zone keeps chairs back and looks good.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I put a fire pit directly on a wooden deck?
No. Heat from the fire pit can scorch or ignite the deck, and NFPA says to keep fire pits away from decks and deck railings. Some fire pits are approved for decks only with the maker's own base or a heat barrier, and some towns ban them on decks. Check your manual and local rules, or use a stone or concrete patio instead.
How far should a fire pit be from a house?
NFPA and the U.S. Fire Administration say at least 10 feet from your home or anything that can burn. Local fire codes can require more, often 25 feet for open fires, so check with your fire department. See our guide on how close a fire pit can be to your house.
Can I use a fire pit on a composite deck?
Only if both the fire pit maker and the deck maker allow it. Trex says wood-burning fire pits should not sit directly on its decking without a heat barrier, and composite can soften at 176°F. Breeo says never to use its X Series on wooden or composite decks without its Base.
How do I protect my patio from fire pit heat?
Use the stand or base your fire pit came with, keep it level, and sweep away ash after each fire. Put cooled ashes in a metal container with a tight lid.
Keep the Fire Going
Gathering around an open fire should be the highlight of your week, not a worry for your homeowner's insurance. Put the fire on a non-combustible surface, keep 10 feet of clearance and an open sky above it, and stay with it until it is out. Safety rules aren't the most glamorous part of live-fire cooking, but keeping your eyebrows intact and your deck unscorched is a great trade. For grills, see how to grill safely, and browse Arteflame fire pits.
Ready for more? Explore more grilling guides and keep the fire going.