Mom’s Tragic Firepit Death & Safety Tips

Mom dies in explosion after feeding burning firepit with more flammable fuel, but gruesome ending to beautiful life is more common than we think. As I am planning firepit in my own home, extreme safety tips are Job 1.

As Fox News reports, “fires involving home heating equipment are the second-leading cause of home fires” and the potential ugly consequences were brought home as Nicole Foltz, a 38-yr-old mother of 5, died after suffering burns over most of her body from that accident in her backyard. An 11-yr-old son miraculously survived after suffering burns over 40% of his body when standing nearby his mother who was trying to keep a fire alive so bugs would not bother the family trying to have “fun” together outside its Pinellas County Florida.

The details are too sad & unnecessary to relate. But, several experts quoted on safety tips give some timely reminders & bear repeating now since nearly half of all such incidents occur during the holiday season & winter months: Besides checking on local zoning laws, keep the firepit at least 10 feet from anything that can burn & never underneath over-hanging trees; take a pass on windy days since sparks can be made to travel to ignite leaves & shrubs dozens of feet away; maintain a sizeable barrier between the firepit & people, esp. youngsters; never allow anyone to get so close to the fire that clothes or even long hair can catch fire; that goes DOUBLE when lighting the fire, e.g., sleeves should be rolled up and hair tied back when striking that first match; always use long, sturdy, nonflammable pokers when adjusting logs that are flaming out; hardwoods are always less smoky & sparky as soft woods or paper logs; and NEVER pour a flammable liquid, including charcoal lighter fluid or gas, on a fire as Mrs. Foltz did.

Davd Soul