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Central Fire Authority of Sonoma County 8200 Old Redwood Hwy Windsor, CA 95492 (707) 838-1170 email: info@cscfire.org Proudly Serving the Rincon Valley and Windsor Fire Protection Districts |
Monthly Safety Message
Rags & Ashes — Caution Required
Spring is here, summer is right around the corner. We welcome the warm weather: time to do some chores around the house; time to barbecue. And time to exercise caution.
STAINING YOUR DECK?
Each year, Windsor Fire responds to several fires that result from improper disposal of rags used to apply deck stain, wood preservative, and like substances. Many people do not realize that rags soaked in stains, preservatives, etc. will spontaneously combust—catch on fire by themselves—unless they are completely dry.
Many times these fires are contained to garbage cans. Sometimes, though, the fire extends to the house—because the garbage can is next to the house or the rags have been left wadded up on the deck—with disastrous results.
It is imperative these rags be disposed of correctly. This can be accomplished in a couple of ways. One, lay the rags out flat on a nonflammable surface—the lawn or the driveway, for example—and leave them there until they are dry. Once they are dry, they can be thrown away. The rags can also be placed in an airtight container, like an empty paint can. Or they can be placed in a container of water.
BARBECUE OR FIREPLACE ASHES?BARBECUE OR FIREPLACE ASHES?Windsor Fire also often responds to fires in garages and backyard sheds, which sometimes spread into the house. In many of these cases, we find that an improper container used to store ashes is the cause of the fire: grocery bags, plastic buckets, plastic trash cans. Sometimes all that is left is a little puddle of plastic the size of a silver dollar under the area of heaviest damage.
Cold ashes many times conceal hot embers within. These embers can smolder for days. When they come in contact with something flammable, fire results.
Using the correct container is a surefire cure for ash disposal fires. Grocery bags will ignite in just a few hours after they have been filled with. Plastic trash containers are absolutely no good for ash removal. Even if the plastic trash can is lidded, the hot embers touch the side of the container, melt through, let in air, and when the air mixes with the melted plastic, a very hot fire quickly results. In many cases, hot ashes dumped on a compost heap will start a fire with the first gust of wind.
Use a metal container with a lid that seals tightly. Place your ashes in the container, put the lid on tightly, and place it away from walls, papers, and other flammables. Let it sit for a week, at least, before you dispose of it.
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