Do I need to keep a spark screen over my wood-burning fire pit or outdoor fireplace while it's burning?
Yes — even in rain-soaked Brevard, keep a spark screen over every wood-burning fire pit and outdoor fireplace the whole time it's lit. Transylvania County catches 80-plus inches of rain a year, which fools people into thinking nothing outdoors can catch — but a dry autumn snap turns pine straw crisp fast, and wood still throws embers no matter how wet the season's been.
Wet county, real fire risk
Brevard's heavy rainfall keeps things green most of the year, but fire risk isn't about the average — it's about the moment. Come a rain-free week in October, the leaf litter and needle beds around Sherwood Forest and Connestee Falls dry out enough to take a spark, and Transylvania County will post a burn ban exactly then. During a ban, no wood fire is legal, so check first. When you can burn, keep the screen seated over the pit the whole time, park the fire on stone or gravel well away from the house and railings, and never on a wood deck or over roots and mulch.
Propane country's spark-free answer
Out toward the cabins and the wetter high ground, Brevard leans on propane rather than a gas main, and that's actually the tidy fix for the ember worry: a propane [gas fire pit](/services/gas-fire-pit-installation) burns clean, drops no sparks, and shuts off instantly — no smoldering coals to babysit in a damp yard. Connecting propane to an outdoor feature is licensed work in North Carolina, and we handle the regulator, the buried outdoor-rated line, and the burner, permitted with Transylvania County. The Napoleon Uptown square LP fire pit is one option we can show you. If you stay with wood, drown it cold before you leave it. We're about 40 minutes southwest — (828) 545-0525.
Moisture is hard on wood pits too
That same 80 inches rusts steel fire pits and corrodes the hinges on a spark screen, so store a portable pit covered and check that the screen still seats tight before each season. A screen that won't close flush isn't doing its job.
Fireplace help in Brevard
We install and service fireplaces throughout Brevard and the rest of Transylvania County — just 40 minutes southwest from our Asheville-area showroom.