Another product to rid your yard of fire ants that is safe around you kids and pets is Talstar. It's a granular product that is spread with a hand spreader, it looks like sand. You only need to spread it twice a year, once in early spring and again in the middle of summer. It is not a poison but a neurotoxin that does them in by affecting their nervous system. It works almost immediately, if you pour some on a mound and return a couple of hours later and you will see thousands of ants on top of the mound either dead or kicking wildly. A twenty five pound bag costs around 25 dollars and is enough to treat around 5000 square feet which is about what a normal city lot is when you subtract the area covered by the house, barn, shed or garage. If you have a large property you can treat the area where you want to keep the ants out of. It's been a life saver for my wife who is allergic to their stings and requires a trip to the hospital if bitten. It's cheap, safe, and effective. It should be available at your farm supply or Do It Yourself pest control.
"gene"