How To Put Out A Solo Stove Bonfire: The Right Way

Learn how to put out a Solo Stove Bonfire the RIGHT way and which accessories can speed up the process! 

We also look at how NOT to extinguish a Solo Stove Bonfire so that you don't end up damaging it.

Let's Go!

The Solo Stove Bonfire is a uniquely designed fire pit and, with its range of accessories, is an easy and efficient way to enjoy a bonfire or some outdoor cooking, but you may be wondering how do you put one out safely?

The Solo Stove is definitely a top of the line fire pit and outdoor cooking product, and if you don't extinguish your Solo Stove Bonfire correctly, you could be making a costly mistake.

Ok, let's get down to the bottom line first:

The absolute best way to put out a Solo Stove bonfire is to let the wood burn out naturally until it is cool to the touch and then cover and store it.

Stop adding logs to the Solo Stove Bonfire about 60 minutes before you plan on wrapping up your gathering.

Once all the active flames have died down, you can throw on the super handy Solo Stove Bonfire Lid to not only keep stray embers from flying out and but further reduce the oxygen supply to the fire.

Let's take a look more in-depth at the best way to extinguish a Solo Stove fire, as well as some other methods that are NOT recommended, and the reasons behind them.

Thinking about buying a new Solo Stove Fire Pit or Camp Stove? 

Make sure to check out our Ultimate Comparison Guide to Solo Stoves first!

Jump to:

• What Is The Best Way To Put Out A Solo Stove Bonfire?
• Video
• How Long Does It Take For A Solo Stove To Cool Down?
• What About the Solo Stove Shield?
• When To Add The Solo Stove Lid and Cover
• Can You Use Water To Put Out A Solo Stove Bonfire?
• Can You Use Sand To Put Out A Solo Stove Bonfire?
• Use A Coal Shovel To Remove Coals And Embers
• The Verdict
• More Solo Stove Resources from Mad Backyard

What Is The Best Way To Put Out A Solo Stove Bonfire?

According to Solo Stove themselves and many other experts on this product and fire pits in general, the best way to extinguish a Solo Stove Bonfire to let it burn out naturally.

This is by far the safest method for both you and the Solo Stove as there is zero risk of any damage to either of you.

It may take a little forward planning, but allowing the fire to burn out and die will keep your Solo Stove in the best condition.

Video

Rather WATCH than read? Check out our YouTube video below which will show you step-by-step How to safely put out a Solo Stove fire pit.

How Long Does It Take For A Solo Stove To Cool Down?

Depending on the amount of fuel you've loaded and the size of your model, the Solo Stove will take anywhere from 2-4 hours to cool down from roaring fire to a touch-safe temperature.

So you need to plan when you want to have it out and then work it backwards to when you would add the last fuel.

Once you have added your last log to the fire, it will start to burn down, and within an hour or so, the flames will have subsided, but this doesn't mean that it is cool and safe to handle yet- not by a long way.

Make sure to always use flame retardant and heat proof gloves when moving the Solo Stove or handling its accessories. These gloves go up to 1472°F!

What About the Solo Stove Shield?

You should be able to distinguish between a few Solo Stove accessories:

• Solo Stove Shield
• Solo Stove Lid
• Solo Stove Cover

They should be used in this order when putting out a Solo Stove Bonfire with the cover going on absolutely last.

NEVER put your Solo Stove Cover on while the fire pit still has burning embers or is hot to the touch!

The Solo Stove Shield is used as screen and can be put on at ANY time once the Solo Stove fire has been started.

The shield will prevent sparks and embers from exiting the Stove while still allowing you to see and enjoy the fire.

Using a fire pit mat underneath the Solo Stove can also help protect your deck or patio from stray embers.

We recommend combining a fire pit mat with the Solo Stove stand to make sure the deck or concrete are not damaged from the heat on the bottom of the Solo Stove.

You will need to have a place to set your hot shield after removing it. Placing it directly on concrete or grass can cause it to damage the surface. We use a large oil drip pan to protect our concrete from the hot shield.

When To Add The Solo Stove Lid and Cover

The Solo Stove Lid is a great accessory to have for when you are wrapping up the party.

While Solo Stove doesn't promise the Lid it will "Snuff Out" your fire, by adding the lid you are decreasing the oxygen flow to your fire and speeding to process of cooling it down along.

You will also be more comfortable leaving the fire pit unattended while you go do something else  knowing its covered and no stray embers can fly out.

Fast forward another hour or two, and the temperature inside the Solo Stove will likely have dropped significantly, and you can probably handle it safely.

Once the Solo Stove has no more burning embers and is completely cool to the touch, you can leave the lid on or take it off and place a good weatherproof cover over the Stove.

We like this one from Solo Stove because of its heavy duty, waterproof material.

Letting the Solo Stove Bonfire burn out naturally, followed by the Solo Stove Lid, is by far the best way to put out the Solo Stove.

Now, let's look at other options and whether you should use these to put out your Solo Stove Bonfire.

Can You Use Water To Put Out A Solo Stove Bonfire?

Using water to douse a bonfire will be effective, of course, but as extinguishing methods go for a Solo Stove, it is NOT recommended at all, and there are some very good reasons for this.

1. Pouring cold water on a hot contained fire like the Solo Stove will cause high-temperature steam to form almost immediately, and this can scald or seriously burn people around the fire.
2. The sudden and severe temperature change can cause the stainless steel to warp, which would damage your Solo Stove and would probably not be covered under warranty.
3. Water mixing with ash will cause ash soot, and this grimy, almost cement-like mixture, can clog up the Solo Stove air vents at the base of the fire pit.
4. Ash soot can also contain moisture, and this can expose the Solo Stove to corrosion and rust, which you definitely don't want.

Bottom line – never use water to put out your Solo Stove Bonfire.

If you suddenly suffer an unexpected downpour and you can't move the Stove out of the rain, don't worry too much as the Stove is very durable and designed to handle occasional rain.

Can You Use Sand To Put Out A Solo Stove Bonfire?

Sand would be a better option than water, but the issue you have is that it can clog the air vents at the bottom of the fire pit and be more difficult to clean out than the ash alone from the fire.

So if you do this, get ready to do some cleaning of the Solo Stove once it's cooled off.

You would still need to wait until the Stove has cooled down completely to handle and cover it, so it's a lot more convenient to just use the Solo Stove Lid when you are ready to start putting out the fire.

Use A Coal Shovel To Remove Coals And Embers

OK, this is all well and good, but what if you are truly in a hurry and need to put out your Solo Stove Bonfire quickly?

If you are looking for a way to put out your Solo Stove Bonfire fast while still protecting it, try this method:

Stop adding logs and let the active flames subside to just burning coals and embers.

Then use a long handled coal shovel to remove the larger burning pieces and put those into a separate steel ash bucket to then cover tightly with a lid or extinguish with sand or water.

Any tiny remaining embers inside the Solo Stove will burn out much quicker, and this way, you are not risking any damage to the Stove or yourself!

The Verdict

When looking to put out a Solo Stove Bonfire, the best and safest way is to allow the Stove to burn out by itself and use the recommended accessories such as the Solo Stove Lid to aid the burning out process.

When working with fire, always be safe as the very high temperatures involved can easily lead to severe burns if you are careless or cavalier.

With a little planning, you won't have to stress about putting the fire out, and you relax and enjoy it knowing that Mother Nature and Solo Stove will take care of it for you.

More Solo Stove Resources from Mad Backyard

• The Ultimate Comparison Guide to Solo Stoves
• How To Light A Solo Stove: Easy Step by Step
• How To Clean A Solo Stove: The Right Way
• What to Do if You Leave a Solo Stove in the Rain
• Can You Use A Solo Stove Under A Covered Patio?
• Can You Use a Solo Stove on a Deck or Concrete Patio?
• Can You Use A Solo Stove On Grass?
• Why Is My Solo Stove Smoking? 3 Simple Fixes
• How to Easily Remove Rust from a Solo Stove
• The Best Wood for a Solo Stove