24/7 Emergency ServiceThe Basics for Safe Outdoor Fires | SERVPRO of Tri-County
5/1/2024 (Permalink)
Bonfire season is upon us! SERVPRO of Tri-County has your back with these helpful fire safety tips.
You might not have noticed much of a difference, but fall is rapidly approaching. There will be a cool breeze in the air and pumpkins decorating everything before we know it. While the break in the heat and humidity is always a very welcome change, there are a lot of other wonderful things about the fall season.
Many of us love spending more time outside this time of year, including evenings around the fire pit. Gathering our loved ones for sticky marshmallows and the chance to share stories can be pure magic, especially when you take the time to keep everything safe.
SERVPRO® is always here for you when a disaster strikes and leaves your property with damages, but we also want to make sure you know how to prevent a fire from ever starting in the first place.
In order to keep things safe from the start, consider these things you should do:
Do find a spot that will be safe for creating your blaze. Choose somewhere that has no low hanging branches, loose debris or nearby structures.
Do keep water for emergency use at arms’ reach. A bucket full of water can put out a flame that gets into the wrong place before it causes extensive damage. Dirt and sand can also help smother embers that might accidentally fly out as well.
Do check the weather. A little bit of wind can spell disaster when it comes to outdoor fires. Look for wind advisories and change your plans if things are predicted to get breezy. Check on any potential burn bans for the area as well, and make sure you are keeping up with any changes in regulations.
Keeping things safe during the fire is pretty easy as well when you keep a few things you don’t want to do in mind:
Don’t burn anything other than treated wood. Using fuel accelerants of any kind can result in a dangerous situation, as can tossing trash onto the fire.
Don’t allow playing around the fire. Create a zone for the kids and your pets to stay out of, and set up any yard games a safe distance away.
Don’t create a massive bonfire, no matter how many friends are cheering you on. Keep it small so that you can stamp out any rogue flame quickly.
Don’t leave the fire until it is completely out. Put water on the fire when you are done for the night, and keep a close eye on it until there are no red embers. Glowing embers can flame at any moment.
Having a safe fire is incredibly important. Keep in mind that most wildfires could have been prevented. Do what you can to prevent even the possibility of things getting out of control by keeping things small, having water nearby and never walking away.
If you do ever have a fire on your property, SERVPRO is ready to take care of the damage fast. Call us and we will be there to put things back together so you can continue to enjoy this season and every other one.
Fire can cause a lot of damage in a short amount of time. Contact us day or night for immediate assistance.