Stay Safe This Holiday Season By Properly Disposing Fireplace Ashes

Although ashes look cold, disposal into plastic or paper containers can have tragic consequences for your home and even neighbors if placed in refuse containers stored adjacent to structures.  This past weekend, Clovis Fire Department responded to two separate fires that started as a result of improperly disposed ashes.  While no one was injured as a result, one home sustained $50,000 in damages and the other suffered $35,000 in losses.

The National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA) estimates that nearly 10,000 house fires are caused annually due to improperly discarded ashes.  Hot coals, hidden in a pile of ashes and thus well insulated, can stay hot for up to 4 days.  Residents are reminded to dispose smoking materials and fireplace ashes in non-combustible containers with a layer of sand or other non-flammable material.  Never discard smoking materials or ashes in containers made of cardboard, wood or plastic.

NEWS RELEASE  Date: November 29, 2011
Contact:  Interim Fire Chief:  Lee Kraft 324-2200
Public Information Officer:  Chad Fitzgerald 593-3289