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<h1>10 Simple Tiki Torch Safety Tips for Your Next Outdoor Gathering</h1> by ToxicDave If warmer weather hasn't already reached you, it likely isn't far away. Backyard gatherings and BBQs are soon to follow and, if you're like me, that means topping off the tiki torches and preparing to light your garden with the perfect mood-setting lighting. It also means now is a good time to be aware of the risks and to ensure your events are safe, fun and injury free. Keep the following safety tips in mind before you fire up your first torch.
Plant your tiki torches securely in the ground. You want to ensure there's no chance of a tiki torch tipping over in wind or at a slight and accidental tap from a guest or pet. Set the torch post in the ground deeply enough that there is no wobble or likelihood of tip-over due to casual contact. Tamp the ground down firmly around the post with a boot if the soil in which it is planted is loose. 
Ensure there are no low branches or other flammable overhead obstructions within reach of the flame. Tree branches are the obvious concern here but don't overlook awnings, tents or anything else such as flags that might move into the path of the flame due to wind. When judging safe distance, a good test is to hold your hand above the flame at the height of the nearest overhead object. If you can't hold your hand there for an extended period without it becoming uncomfortable, then the object is too close and the torch should be relocated.
Also pay attention to objects adjacent to your tiki torches. Plants, fences or any other flammable material that may be exposed to the flame if the wind should blow in the wrong direction are your obvious concerns. It doesn't take much wind to turn a vertical column of flame into a horizontal blowtorch. Allow several feet between your torches and anything flammable.
Remove unnecessary flammables from the ground around your torch post. It's often the case that mulch or other decorative, flammable ground covering will be close to your tiki torch post, but if you can, avoid that. Certainly rake up dried leaves and, if possible, remove any mulch from directly beneath the torch. You can offset the resulting unattractive bare spot with some decorative stone. Better that you get creative with the ground covering near your torch than risk igniting your entire garden should there be sloshed or dripping fuel.
Keep your torch wick low. There's no need to signal satellites with your tiki torch by extending the wick so far out that the flame shoots ridiculously high. Your objective is to create mood and some functional lighting, not to ignite low flying aircraft.
Don't overfill your fuel reservoir. There's no need to fill your torch to the brim with tiki torch oil. Add only enough to ensure the wick is adequately submerged to allow several burnings without having to top off your torch. Filling the reservoir to the brim presents the risk that even a slight bump might result in sloshing and ignition of the spilled and dripping fuel.
Extinguish the flame before moving the torch. If you've placed a tiki torch, lit it and your wife subsequently decides it would look better a few feet to the left, put it out before you move it (the torch, not your wife). Moving a filled torch could result in sloshing or spills and, if the wick is lit, the spilled fuel is likely to ignite. Always put the flame out and allow it to cool for a minute before uprooting and replanting your torch. And remember to replant it firmly in the ground. Also avoid moving furniture soon after. If she wasn't happy with where you put the torch, she's sure to be unhappy with where you place the couch the first time, too.
Place your torches sufficiently distant from areas where people are likely to mingle. This will obviously require your best judgment as you want to benefit from both ambiance and functional lighting. Try to find a reasonable compromise, though, and give your torches a little distance from the people who will be in your garden lest over-sprayed hair or clothing be at risk. This approach will help mitigate the risk of Uncle Bob being a bit liberal at the beer cooler and subsequently stumbling into one of your torches.
Control your pets, control your kids. Dogs love to play tag and you run a risk if you have tiki torches lighting a party with pets on the guest list. Ensure that dogs are monitored and don't get too rambunctious around your lit tiki torches. Only slightly less energetic and uncontrollable are children who are just as likely to chase each other around your garden, and they come with the added downside of being fascinated by fire. Ensure that children are adequately warned about the dangers and closely supervised while in your garden. If you see them lingering near a tiki torch, it's probably best to scoot them along to a less risky section of the yard.
Store your tiki torch oil safely and in accordance with labeling. This generally means in a cool, well ventilated, outdoor setting. It's a common sense rule that's too often overlooked with disastrous results. If you don't have an outdoor shed under a shade tree, make accommodations with a tarp or place the container (covered) behind a bush where it will be in the shade. NEVER store your fuel inside your home or near your grill.
Though I prefer the flickering flame of tiki torches over other landscape lighting options, I am always conscious of the risks. Keep these ten tips in mind and use your torches safely and responsibly. Taking these precautions will help you host a safe and memorable (in a good way) gathering your guests will be talking about around the water cooler on Monday. And the talk will be all about your fabulous party, not about how you managed to single handedly burn down half the neighborhood. 
Bonus tip: it never hurts to keep a chemical fire extinguisher handy when engaged in any outdoor activity that involves an open flame.
 <h2>About the Author</h2>Among other blogs, David writes for <a href="http://www.tikitorchesguide.com/">TikiTorchesGuide.com</a>, a blog devoted to <a href="http://www.tikitorchesguide.com/tiki-torches-and-safety/">tiki torches and safety</a> , their use in outdoor entertainment, maintenance and their creative use in landscape lighting. He generally moves his furniture twice before his wife is happy with the results.
 <h3><a href="http://www.content4reprint.com/home/gardening/landscaping/10-simple-tiki-torch-safety-tips-for-your-next-outdoor-gathering.htm" title="10 Simple Tiki Torch Safety Tips for Your Next Outdoor Gathering">Article Source:</a> <a href="http://www.content4reprint.com" title="Free high quality articles">Content for Reprint</a></h3>

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<body><h1>10 Simple Tiki Torch Safety Tips for Your Next Outdoor Gathering</h1> by ToxicDave If warmer weather hasn't already reached you, it likely isn't far away. Backyard gatherings and BBQs are soon to follow and, if you're like me, that means topping off the tiki torches and preparing to light your garden with the perfect mood-setting lighting. It also means now is a good time to be aware of the risks and to ensure your events are safe, fun and injury free. Keep the following safety tips in mind before you fire up your first torch.
Plant your tiki torches securely in the ground. You want to ensure there's no chance of a tiki torch tipping over in wind or at a slight and accidental tap from a guest or pet. Set the torch post in the ground deeply enough that there is no wobble or likelihood of tip-over due to casual contact. Tamp the ground down firmly around the post with a boot if the soil in which it is planted is loose. 
Ensure there are no low branches or other flammable overhead obstructions within reach of the flame. Tree branches are the obvious concern here but don't overlook awnings, tents or anything else such as flags that might move into the path of the flame due to wind. When judging safe distance, a good test is to hold your hand above the flame at the height of the nearest overhead object. If you can't hold your hand there for an extended period without it becoming uncomfortable, then the object is too close and the torch should be relocated.
Also pay attention to objects adjacent to your tiki torches. Plants, fences or any other flammable material that may be exposed to the flame if the wind should blow in the wrong direction are your obvious concerns. It doesn't take much wind to turn a vertical column of flame into a horizontal blowtorch. Allow several feet between your torches and anything flammable.
Remove unnecessary flammables from the ground around your torch post. It's often the case that mulch or other decorative, flammable ground covering will be close to your tiki torch post, but if you can, avoid that. Certainly rake up dried leaves and, if possible, remove any mulch from directly beneath the torch. You can offset the resulting unattractive bare spot with some decorative stone. Better that you get creative with the ground covering near your torch than risk igniting your entire garden should there be sloshed or dripping fuel.
Keep your torch wick low. There's no need to signal satellites with your tiki torch by extending the wick so far out that the flame shoots ridiculously high. Your objective is to create mood and some functional lighting, not to ignite low flying aircraft.
Don't overfill your fuel reservoir. There's no need to fill your torch to the brim with tiki torch oil. Add only enough to ensure the wick is adequately submerged to allow several burnings without having to top off your torch. Filling the reservoir to the brim presents the risk that even a slight bump might result in sloshing and ignition of the spilled and dripping fuel.
Extinguish the flame before moving the torch. If you've placed a tiki torch, lit it and your wife subsequently decides it would look better a few feet to the left, put it out before you move it (the torch, not your wife). Moving a filled torch could result in sloshing or spills and, if the wick is lit, the spilled fuel is likely to ignite. Always put the flame out and allow it to cool for a minute before uprooting and replanting your torch. And remember to replant it firmly in the ground. Also avoid moving furniture soon after. If she wasn't happy with where you put the torch, she's sure to be unhappy with where you place the couch the first time, too.
Place your torches sufficiently distant from areas where people are likely to mingle. This will obviously require your best judgment as you want to benefit from both ambiance and functional lighting. Try to find a reasonable compromise, though, and give your torches a little distance from the people who will be in your garden lest over-sprayed hair or clothing be at risk. This approach will help mitigate the risk of Uncle Bob being a bit liberal at the beer cooler and subsequently stumbling into one of your torches.
Control your pets, control your kids. Dogs love to play tag and you run a risk if you have tiki torches lighting a party with pets on the guest list. Ensure that dogs are monitored and don't get too rambunctious around your lit tiki torches. Only slightly less energetic and uncontrollable are children who are just as likely to chase each other around your garden, and they come with the added downside of being fascinated by fire. Ensure that children are adequately warned about the dangers and closely supervised while in your garden. If you see them lingering near a tiki torch, it's probably best to scoot them along to a less risky section of the yard.
Store your tiki torch oil safely and in accordance with labeling. This generally means in a cool, well ventilated, outdoor setting. It's a common sense rule that's too often overlooked with disastrous results. If you don't have an outdoor shed under a shade tree, make accommodations with a tarp or place the container (covered) behind a bush where it will be in the shade. NEVER store your fuel inside your home or near your grill.
Though I prefer the flickering flame of tiki torches over other landscape lighting options, I am always conscious of the risks. Keep these ten tips in mind and use your torches safely and responsibly. Taking these precautions will help you host a safe and memorable (in a good way) gathering your guests will be talking about around the water cooler on Monday. And the talk will be all about your fabulous party, not about how you managed to single handedly burn down half the neighborhood. 
Bonus tip: it never hurts to keep a chemical fire extinguisher handy when engaged in any outdoor activity that involves an open flame.
 <h2>About the Author</h2>Among other blogs, David writes for <a href="http://www.tikitorchesguide.com/">TikiTorchesGuide.com</a>, a blog devoted to <a href="http://www.tikitorchesguide.com/tiki-torches-and-safety/">tiki torches and safety</a> , their use in outdoor entertainment, maintenance and their creative use in landscape lighting. He generally moves his furniture twice before his wife is happy with the results.
 <h3><a href="http://www.content4reprint.com/home/gardening/landscaping/10-simple-tiki-torch-safety-tips-for-your-next-outdoor-gathering.htm" title="10 Simple Tiki Torch Safety Tips for Your Next Outdoor Gathering">Article Source:</a> <a href="http://www.content4reprint.com" title="Free high quality articles">Content for Reprint</a></h3></body></html>