Is it safe to burn treated wood in a backyard fire pit during a cookout?

Short answer

Why people ask this

People planning a backyard cookout with a fire pit wonder if they can use leftover deck boards to keep the flames going while cooking s’mores or grilling. Because guests, kids, and food are close to the fire, they want to know if it’s okay just this once. Treated lumber is common from home projects, and it burns easily. But the chemicals used to preserve it can release toxic fumes and residues that are especially concerning when food, pets, and neighbors are nearby.

When it might be safe

There are no commonly accepted situations where this is considered safe.

When it is not safe

• Treated wood (CCA, creosote, or modern preservative types) can release toxic chemicals into smoke that drift over food and guests during a cookout.
• Small backyard fire pits don’t fully combust preservatives, increasing harmful fumes and ash that can settle on grills, skewers, and s’mores.
• Close quarters at a cookout mean kids, pets, and people are directly in the smoke plume and fallout from the fire pit.
• Residue-laden ash can contaminate lawns, vegetable beds, and picnic areas if disposed of on-site after the party.
• Many local codes prohibit burning treated lumber, especially in residential settings where smoke can affect neighboring yards and outdoor diners.

Possible risks

• Inhalation and food contamination from arsenic, chromium, copper, or PAHs when burning CCA- or creosote-treated wood near cooking areas.
• Acute symptoms during the cookout such as headache, throat and eye irritation, nausea, and coughing from smoke exposure.
• Potential formation of dioxins and other toxic byproducts when treated or painted wood is burned at low, backyard fire-pit temperatures.
• Transfer of chemical residues onto marshmallows, hot dogs, pans, or grill grates positioned over or near the fire pit.
• Exposure to neighbors downwind as smoke carries contaminants beyond your yard during gatherings.

Safer alternatives

• Use seasoned, untreated hardwood (oak, maple, hickory) or labeled food-safe cooking wood for the fire pit.
• Cook over natural lump charcoal or briquettes without additives; add clean hardwood chunks for flavor.
• Look for kiln-dried or heat-treated (HT-stamped) lumber offcuts that are untreated, not pressure-treated or painted.
• Keep a dedicated cooking setup (grill or grate) fueled only by food-safe fuels, and use a separate ambiance fire if desired.
• Dispose of treated wood through your municipality’s construction waste or hazardous material guidance—don’t burn it.

Bottom line

Do not burn treated wood in a backyard fire pit during a cookout. Use clean, untreated cooking fuels to protect guests, food, and neighbors, and follow local rules for proper disposal of treated lumber.

Related questions

Search something else