How to Put Out a Fire Pit Safely

On this page (8 sections)

1. How do you put out a wood fire pit?
2. How do you put out a gas fire pit?
3. Can a lid or screen put out a fire?
4. What should you do if the fire spreads?
5. How do you know the fire is fully out?
6. When can you dispose of the ashes?
7. What should you keep nearby to put out a fire pit?
8. Which fire pit shutdown method should you choose?

To put out a fire pit, match the method to the fuel: soak and stir wood embers until cold, or shut off a gas burner and its fuel supply as the manual directs. That is the safest answer to how to put out a fire pit, whether you use a simple bowl, a smokeless model, or a fire table.

Stay with the fire until there are no flames, glowing coals, steam, or warm spots. Wind can uncover embers, so check the pit again before leaving the area.

How do you put out a wood fire pit?

Use water, stirring, and repeat checks to put out a wood fire pit. Keep water and a long-handled shovel or poker within reach before you light the fire.

1. Stop adding wood and let the flames settle.
2. Spread the remaining logs and embers across the fire bowl.
3. Pour water slowly over the fire, starting at the edges and working inward.
4. Stir the ashes and embers so water reaches below the surface.
5. Add more water and stir again until the hissing stops and everything is cold.

Pour slowly to limit steam and ash blowing toward you. Stand upwind when possible, and keep your face and hands away from rising steam.

Water is the straightforward choice for a wood-burning fire when it is safe to use around your pit. If water isn't available, don't assume the fire is out because the flames have faded.

Follow the fire pit instructions and local fire guidance, and keep monitoring the coals until they are cold.

The guide to starting a fire in a fire pit explains how to build a manageable fire, which makes it easier to put out later.

How to put out a fire pit when you lack a shovel

Use a long-handled metal poker to expose hidden hot spots. Move embers with the tool, and avoid using a short stick or reaching into the bowl by hand.

The Pure Garden Ash Bucket and Shovel suits wood-pit owners who want a dedicated tool for moving cold ashes during cleanup. Skip it if you already have a suitable long-handled shovel and a safe container for cooled ash.

Its wooden grip is described as heat resistant and its raised bottom as thermally insulated, but neither feature makes it safe to transfer hot ashes. Keep ashes in the pit until fully cold, then move them carefully to a covered metal container away from anything that can burn.

For steps after the fire is out, see how to clean a fire pit and handle the ashes.

How do you put out a gas fire pit?

Turn off the burner and fuel supply according to the fire pit manual. Use the control valve or shutoff steps specified for your model, then let the burner and surrounding parts cool.

A gas pit suits people who prefer a controllable burner and do not want to manage wood embers. It still needs a safe shutdown routine before use.

Learn where its shutoff is and how to use it.

Don't pour water over a gas burner or cover a hot pit unless the manufacturer instructs you to. Water can damage components, and a cover can trap heat.

If you smell gas, hear a leak, or can't shut off the fuel, move away from the pit. Avoid switches or flames nearby, and call your gas supplier or emergency services from a safe location.

The fire pit BTU guide explains what burner ratings mean when comparing gas models.

Can a lid or screen put out a fire?

A lid or spark screen is not a replacement for fully extinguishing a fire. Follow the manual before placing any cover over a hot pit.

A spark screen helps contain sparks while wood burns, so it suits people who want a barrier between the fire and nearby surroundings. It doesn't put out the coals underneath, and it should be skipped if it does not fit the fire bowl securely.

The RGJ 36-Inch Spark Screen has a metal ring handle and tight mesh. Measure the pit's inside diameter before buying, and don't add too much wood at once.

RGJ advises keeping flammable materials away. Remove the screen only as its instructions direct, with care around hot metal.

A lid is useful for covering a cooled pit and helping keep out leaves and weather. The Ardier 32-Inch Fire Pit Lid is designed for pits up to 30 inches in diameter.

Skip it if your pit is larger or if you need a lid to smother an active fire.

The lid has a wooden handle, and Ardier recommends heat-resistant gloves when handling it. Wait until the lid and pit are cool; a lid's fit or material does not mean it can safely smother an active fire.

What should you do if the fire spreads?

If flames escape the bowl or threaten people, buildings, or dry plants, call emergency services. Don't try to fight a spreading fire if you could be trapped or burned.

A suitable extinguisher belongs within easy reach when you use a wood pit. The Kidde Basic 110 is designed for basic home fires involving wood, paper, liquids, gases, and electrical equipment.

It suits someone who wants a compact household extinguisher for more than one common fire type.

It is residential and single-use, so replace it after use or discharge. Skip it if you need equipment for a commercial setting or a fire type outside its stated rating.

Use an extinguisher only if the fire is small, you have a clear exit behind you, and you can operate it safely. If the fire is growing, leave the area and warn others.

Call emergency services, and don't return to the pit until authorities say it is safe.

How do you know the fire is fully out?

A fire is out only when no flame, glow, steam, or warmth remains. Stir the ashes, check underneath them, and add water again if you find heat.

Don't leave a pit just because the surface looks gray. Embers can hide below ash or between pieces of wood, and wind may expose them later.

Keep children and pets away while the pit cools. Don't put ashes in a trash bin, compost, or near dry leaves while any warmth remains.

When can you dispose of the ashes?

Dispose of ashes only after they are completely cold. Follow local rules and use a covered metal container kept away from buildings and burnable materials.

Use a shovel to transfer cold ash, and avoid stirring up dust. The Pure Garden bucket has a lid and shovel for transport, but it should hold only ashes that have cooled fully.

If you aren't sure whether ash is cold, leave it in the pit and check later. Don't store ash beside a deck, wood pile, siding, or other material that could catch fire.

What should you keep nearby to put out a fire pit?

For a wood fire, keep water and a long-handled tool nearby; for gas, know the correct burner and fuel shutoff steps. A suitable extinguisher can help with a small household fire if you can use it safely and keep a clear exit.

Choose each accessory for its job. A spark screen can help contain sparks while a fire burns.

An ash bucket can carry cold ashes, and a lid can cover a cooled pit. None of these replaces the steps for fully extinguishing a fire.

The fire pit accessories guide covers tools and covers, while what to burn in a fire pit explains fuel choices.

Which fire pit shutdown method should you choose?

For wood, soak and stir until cold; for gas, turn off the burner and fuel supply as the manual directs. If you can't control the fire or smell gas, move away and call for help.

Buy an ash bucket if you need a dedicated way to carry cold ash, a spark screen if a correctly sized barrier would help contain sparks, or a lid if you want to cover a cooled pit. Choose an extinguisher for small household fire emergencies, and learn how to use it before you need it.

No accessory makes it safe to leave a fire unattended. To put out a fire pit safely, finish with a cold check, keep ash away from anything that burns, and follow the instructions for your specific pit.

Frequently asked questions

Should you put water on a wood fire pit?

Yes, water is a common way to put out a wood fire pit. Pour it slowly over the embers, stir the ashes with a shovel or poker, and add more water until there is no hissing, steam, or heat.

Check again before leaving, since buried embers can stay hot.

Can you leave a fire pit to burn out overnight?

No. Stay with a fire until it is fully out and cold, and follow local fire rules.

A pile of glowing embers can keep burning after visible flames stop.

Put out the fire before going indoors or to bed, then check for warmth again.

How do you put out a gas fire pit?

Turn off the burner and shut off the fuel supply as the manufacturer directs. Don't pour water over a gas burner or cover it while it is hot unless the manual says to do so.

If you smell gas or cannot stop the flow, move away and call emergency services.

How long should ashes cool before disposal?

Keep ashes in the fire pit until they are fully cold, then place them in a covered metal container away from buildings and anything that can burn. Cooling time varies with the amount of ash and weather, so check for warmth before handling and follow local disposal rules.