Getting Those Autumn Bonfires Burning? Follow These Tips To Avoid Landing In Court

The weather's getting colder and the nights are getting longer—and for a lot of people, that combo means only one thing: bonfires. Autumn-time bonfires are a tradition in many parts of the country, as people celebrate the last few weeks before the cold settles in and take the opportunity to burn those piles of leaves that gather up. However, bonfires can also be a source of serious injuries—and you can end up in a personal injury lawsuit if you don't take precautions.

Understand your potential liability.

Nobody likes to think about something bad happening, especially when they want to celebrate a little—but premise liability laws make you responsible for your invited guests. Basically, it requires you to take any precautions necessary to keep your guests from getting hurt. Take charge of the bonfire and make sure that you enforce a few specific rules:

• Only you and someone you designate can add fuel to the bonfire—no helpers are needed or appreciated!

• The bonfire is a kid-free zone; even if you decide to roast marshmallows, have an adult handle the process for any kids.

• Absolutely no horseplay anywhere around the bonfire.

In addition, make sure that you follow a few other steps.

Keep the bonfire a reasonable size.

One of the biggest causes of bonfire accidents and injuries is that people just get too ambitious. Take the case of the twelve students killed in the year 2000 during the annual Texas A&M bonfire. A local tradition, the bonfire had grown in size over the years until it was ultimately unsafe. While a big fire is fun and festive, it's also a big danger—so keep your bonfire modest and easily controlled.

Keep enough peripheral light around so that people can see.

Don't rely on the bonfire for your only lighting. That's a recipe for disaster and basically inviting guests to take a tumble over something that's half-hidden on the ground, an exposed tree root, or a stray log. Having the only source of light coming from the bonfire essentially blinds your guests to anything that's not directly between them and the fire. Someone could easily trip and fall, just like FOX anchorwoman Michele DeSelms. She stepped on a hot grate that someone had just moved off the fire pit and put on the ground. It wasn't visible in the dark, and it seared DeSelms' foot and sent her falling backward into the fire.

Make sure that you keep the area clear of dangerous items.

Always check the area around your bonfire for objects that shouldn't be there. Anything that's clearly flammable needs to be put away, for everyone's safety. Otherwise, someone could get seriously injured. For example, an off-duty police officer in Florida was severely burned when he noticed a stray gas can that had been left too close to a backyard bonfire and tried to move it to safety.

Taking a few simple precautions should protect you and your guests during bonfire season. If the worse does happen, consult an attorney right away about your situation and possible liability for the accident. For more information about your legal responsibilities and mitigating risks, contact a company like Bishop Dorfman Kroupa & Bishop PC.

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