Drought Conditions Could Spell Trouble for Fire Pit and Grill Sales

As summer transitions into fall the weather is usually perfect for grilling before watching football and for bonfires. I say usually because there’s a problem that sections of the country are facing, there’s no rain.

We saw bad weather in the summer contribute to low revenue for companies in the grill industry. While the biggest grill sales months are behind us, fire pit season is just getting going.

Burn Bans in Ohio and West Virginia

With drought conditions persisting and not much rain on the horizon, multiple states have counties with burn bans. Ohio has at least 28 counties named under the burn ban, but more counties are automatically added as they reach Extreme Drought (D3) or Exceptional Drought (D4) on the US Drought Monitor.

It’s a similar story in neighboring West Virginia, where two counties are under a burn ban but the weather calls for more hot, dry weather. There has also been discussions about a statewide burn ban.

Limited Grilling and No Fire Pits

The rules around burn bans are different on the state or local level, but in Ohio grilling is currently severely limited. The only grills that can be used in the areas with a burn ban are electric or propane fueled.

Electric grills have come a long way in recent years with new companies like Current Backyard. Burn bans could be one of the tailwinds that help them grow market share.

For propane grills there are even more restrictions on how they can be used. They are only permitted under the following conditions.

• Fire extinguishers: Appropriate fire extinguishers are readily available in the area and immediately accessible to equipment users or other responsible persons at all times any propane/liquid fueled cooking equipment is in use
• Water: Adequate water sources for extinguishing any fire, embers, or sparks and an appropriate means for water delivery are readily available in the area and immediately accessible to equipment users or other responsible persons at all times propane/liquid fueled cooking equipment is in use
• Separation from flammable or combustible materials: No flammable or combustible materials, debris, vegetation, grasses, or similar items are located within 5 feet of the propane/liquid fueled cooking equipment
• Oversight of Public Locations: For locations open to public access (such as campgrounds, parking lots, public or private parks or entertainment venues, sport venues, or similar locations), such locations must be adequately staffed with persons properly trained in emergency response procedures at all times propane/liquid fueled cooking occurs, and such locations must have appropriately trained/qualified persons regularly monitor all areas where propane/liquid fueled cooking occurs.

It’s a different story for bonfires, which are strictly prohibited. That includes popular smokeless fire pits.

Impact on Revenue

Good weather is vitally important for selling outdoor cooking products and fire pits. To compound the post Pandemic lull in sales, we’ve also had excessively hot weather, wet weather for key grilling holidays, and one year of persistent wildfire smoke in the northeast.

It’s still at the beginning of fire pit season, but any delay to when people can be out enjoying bonfires will likely result in lost sales. We’ve already seen companies like Solo Stove struggling like the rest of the outdoor cooking industry, the last thing they need to go with a pressured consumer is the inability to even use their products.