As my mom used to say, “It’s all fun and games until someone gets hurt.” Fire is a great way to entertain people in the summer and cook food. But, when injures happen, fire is not a fun thing. Here’s a refresher course on some safety tips when playing with fire:

• Don’t leave them unattended-Fire’s sneaky, and a little gust of wind here, a popping ember there, and a fire can start even when you just have your back turned. Treat fire like a convict plotting a prison break.
• Keep an extinguisher or bucket of water on hand-I never understood the phrase “fight fire with fire.” You fight fire with water. That’s winning.
• Don’t soak the logs in gasoline-No duh, but I confess I’ve done this before. After trying to start a fire traditionally for 23 hours, you get a little fed up and douse the logs in gasoline/kerosine/rubbing alcohol just for the sheer pleasure of seeing those logs disappear in a fiery inferno. Unfortunately, so do you. Stick with traditional fire starting, you’ll live longer.
• Avoid using soft wood-For example, pine or cedar wood. This stuff is pretty poppy when on fire, and will transform your firebowl into the Fourth of July. Unless you’re out of sparklers on the Fourth, stick with seasoned, dry wood for your backyard fires.

Observe these safety tips, and you will enjoy a nice, pleasant summer with your home still intact.