It’s that time of year when beach fires along the Alki waterfront seem like a good idea, and Seattle Parks and Recreation has some rules to abide by if you fire one up:

• Please light fires ONLY in designated fire pits, available on a first-come, first-served basis.

• Please burn only clean firewood (bare, clean, dry cordwood).

• Please douse your fire completely (with water, not sand!) before you leave.

• Please don’t remove anything from the park, beach, or dunes.

• Please dispose of trash and ashes in the containers provided for each.

• Please be considerate of others – amplified music is not allowed!

• Please remember that alcohol is not allowed.

And a final reminder: Small kindling, rolled up newspaper (You can always use an old copy of the Herald!), and fire starter logs are a safer way to get your fire started instead of using potentially dangerous flammable liquids. In an incident last June, five Federal Way teenagers were burned when one of the revelers tossed an envelope filled with gasoline into the fire, splashing the flaming liquid onto himself and friends.