Fire Safety Tips For November

As the weather gets a little cooler it reminds me of some of the fires I’ve responded to as a firefighter. Each is unique but some have common causes, and I’d like to share a couple stories. All too often I saw fires started with fireplace ashes placed in a grocery bag or cardboard box […]

November 3, 2009; 10:42 AM • by Dave Daniels

As the weather gets a little cooler it reminds me of some of the fires I’ve responded to as a firefighter. Each is unique but some have common causes, and I’d like to share a couple stories.

All too often I saw fires started with fireplace ashes placed in a grocery bag or cardboard box long after the fireplace was used. The bag was placed on the back deck or in the garage, and even seven days after the fireplace was last used, a hot ember ignited the bag, box, deck, or garage. One homeowner knew that fireplace ashes act as insulation and can keep embers hot for seven to ten days. He placed them in a metal can on the back deck. Heat transferred through the metal and ignited the back deck.

Ashes dumped in the backyard have ignited brush, woods, and sheds on fire when the wind picked up, days after the ashes were dumped.

Another homeowner using a vacuum to clean up around a wood stove, unknowingly sucked an ember into the vacuum, which was then placed in an attic stairwell. The smoke detector later alerted the homeowner after the stairwell and attic were engulfed in fire.

If you use wood burning devices keep the following in mind:

• Make sure you have a working smoke detector
• Don’t place ashes in any combustible container
• If you use a metal container put some water in it before the ashes
• Place the container outside away from combustibles
• Ashes dumped on the ground should be completely wet down<
• Stop by your local fire station today for additional fire safety information

November 3, 2009 10:42 AM 0