Autumn Fire Dangers

9/16/2021 (Permalink)

Do you feel that? The air is getting crisper, the humidity is dropping, and in the mornings and evenings, you may even want a light jacket. That’s right: Fall is here again. A favorite season for campers, leaf-peepers and of course trick-or-treaters, fall is perfect for many fun activities.

As always, however, each season brings its own potential fire hazards as activities commence. So grab a pumpkin spice latte, and let’s look over a few fire safety tips for the season.

Campfire Safety

Knowing where and how to build a campfire is as important as knowing how to put it out. Use a match or lighter to set fire to dry leaves or twigs, then add dry wood and bigger sticks.

Never use an accelerant like kerosene or lighter fluid. Build your fire away from structures and out from under tree branches.

Extinguish your fire completely before leaving your campsite. Slowly douse it with a bucket of water and make sure no embers remain—anything you leave behind can start up again with the right breeze.

Leaf Burning

Your yard is almost certainly full of dry, brown leaves by now, and many people like to burn them as a disposal method.

This is fine, provided it’s legal in your area, but only put leaves in that burn barrel. Adding household trash or debris can have adverse effects like explosions or the release of toxic fumes.

Space Heaters

Portable space heaters are one of the most frequent causes of home fires in fall and winter. Keep your heater away from anything flammable on any side.

Make sure it’s on a level surface away from kids or play areas, and that it has automatic shutoff capability for tip-overs and overheating. Plug it directly into an outlet, never an extension cord, and turn it off when you leave the room or go to bed.

Halloween

We’ll talk more about this later, but candles, decorations and even costumes can be fire hazards, and all these things are ubiquitous during the spooky season, so be attentive and responsible as you celebrate.

If a fire hazard should turn from potential to reality in your home, remember the trusted leader in the recovery industry and contact SERVPRO to get your property fully restored right down to the smell of smoke.