Contact a representative of your HOA’s board of directors to find out if the organization prohibits burning paper.

If you don’t have a fire pit, you can purchase a metal or brick one from a nearby home-improvement store. Elevated fire pits have an additional advantage: since they’re elevated up off of the ground, it’s easier for air to circulate beneath the fire. This allows for better ventilation and allows the paper to burn well.

Also use a shovel or your hands to clear grass, twigs, and any other flammable material away from the hole. Clear about 2 feet (0. 61 m) on all sides.

Look for burn cages at a local hardware or home-improvement store. They typically cost between $150–400 USD.

As a safety precaution, contact the local fire department before you start your bonfire. Let them know the day and time when you’ll start the fire. That way, if it gets out of hand, they’ll have the resources to help you put out the fire.

If it’s removable, take the metal grilling surface out of the grill. Just burn the papers directly on the hot charcoal.

It’s always a good idea to check the local fire danger before burning papers outdoors.

If you don’t have a fire extinguisher, purchase one at a local hardware store or home-improvement store.

If you’re concerned about the fire spreading, try pouring a perimeter of sand around the area where you’ll burn the paper.

If starting the fire is difficult, you can also squirt a small amount of lighter fluid onto the base of the fire.

If the fire is on the verge of going out, try placing 3–4 small pieces of kindling into the fire to keep it going.

If you need to go indoors (e. g. , to use the restroom) ask another adult to watch the fire.

Unless it’s an emergency, avoid dousing the fire with a bucket of water. This will turn to ashes into a goo which will be impossible to dispose of.

Before burning the paper, make sure that any flammable materials are at least 3–4 feet (0. 91–1. 22 m) away from the tub. This includes towels, bathmats, and bottles of shampoo or conditioner.

Burning papers in a tub works best if you only have a small stack to burn. Otherwise, the smoke could set off the fire alarm. Be careful not to burn your fingers as you hold the burning papers over the tub!

Make sure that none of the bits of paper are still hot when you throw them away.