Put Out The Fire Beanbag Game

My great-nephew recently had a PAW Patrol-themed birthday party. Since fire and rescue fit with the party theme, I made this Put Out The Fire Beanbag Game using printable flames, cardboard, hinges, and part of a 2×4.

What You Need To Make A Put Out The Fire Beanbag Game

I used supplies I had on hand to create this game so it didn’t cost anything extra to create. If you have the right tools, my niece found an idea on YouTube where they cut flames out of wood and screwed the hinges to the wood flames and the wood base. That would make a super durable game that could be used for years to come, but I didn’t have the tools needed to cut wood flames. I had to find a way that didn’t involve tools I don’t have, but I liked the hinge idea and happened to have extra hinges in the garage, so I thought I’d give it a whirl!

• Printable Flame – Found below.
• Printer and Cardstock – For printing the flames.
• Cardboard – My husband grabbed a box out of the recycling bin to use!
• Packing Tape – You could probably also laminate the flames and then attach them to cardboard, but I found this method worked well and was easy to do.
• Scissors – To cut your flames.
• Utility Knife – To carefully cut the cardboard around your flames.
• Hinges – To attach the flames to the wood base. I used regular door hinges because that’s what I had on hand, but they were a little big for the 2×4.
• Screws – For attaching the hinges to the wood base. I used 3/4″ screws.
• Drill – To attach the hinges to the wood base.
• Wood Base – I used a 2×4 because I just happened to have it in the garage. If I were to do this again, I would use a 4×4 instead because it’s heavier and the hinges would fit on it better.
• Beanbags – We used the beanbags from our cornhole game, but you could use smaller beanbags or get creative and use something else.

How To Make This Game

The morning after my niece showed me that YouTube video, I went to work on creating my own version of the Put Out The Fire Beanbag Game. I was inspired by the idea of using hinges and realized I had everything I needed to make the game. It took no more than two hours to create, and it was a fun activity for the kids.

1. Print The Flames

I had a flame graphic I had created when I came up with the S’more Fun Care Package Ideas, so I made that flame fill an 8.5″ x 11″ page to print, and it worked well!

2. Cut Out The Flames

Cut the flames and attach them to cardboard using packing tape. Then use a utility knife to carefully cut the cardboard around the flame shapes. Be sure to cut on a protected surface. I used another box to cut on.

Tip: When cutting out the flames, leave the white portion at the bottom of the printed page. This gives you room to attach the hinge without hiding part of the flame behind the wooden base. That’s why you’ll notice one flame on my game has cardboard showing at the bottom, while the other two have the white paper showing. Leaving the white portion of the page intact was much easier.

3. Attach A Hinge To Each Flame

Once each flame is attached to cardboard and cut, use packing tape to attach one side of the hinge to the bottom of the flame. I used a few pieces to make sure it was held on well to stand up to lots of use.

4. Attach The Flames To The Wood Base

Next, I attached the other side of the hinge to a 2×4 with two short screws. As you can see, the hinge is a little big for the 2×4. If I were to do this again, I would use a 4×4 instead so the hinge would be hidden behind the wood.

5. Set Up The Game

We grabbed the beanbags from our cornhole game and tried it out! Then, my son suggested we just use the blue beanbags to represent water. These beanbags worked well but were also a bit overkill for what we were doing. You could definitely get away with smaller beanbags. On party day, we set the game up near an empty wall and placed blue tape on the floor as a throwing position.

6. Enjoy The Game!

This game held up well to lots of users throughout the party. Some were more aggressive than others, but the game still stands!

Ways To Use The Put Out The Fire Game

• Firefighter Birthday Party
• Fire-Safety Week
• School or Preschool Activity
• Carnival Game
• Summer Camp
• Outdoor Kids’ Activity

You can also secure the game to a table with bungee cords to raise it a bit.

Get Your Free Printable Flame Here

Ready to make your own Put Out The Fire Beanbag Game? Download the free printable flame below. I suggest printing the flame on cardstock for a sturdier starting point. Then follow the steps above to attach it to cardboard and assemble your game.

Frequently Asked Questions