Backyard Fire Hazard Awareness SERVPRO of Shippensburg/Perry County

6/20/2022 (Permalink)

Fire can be a beautiful thing! Be careful that it stays where it should.

Spring practically begs us to head outdoors. There’s so much to enjoy, from the mild, breezy weather to the incredible display of nature’s beauty. And there’s a renewed sense of life that it all brings that energizes us and calls us to get out of the house and enjoy the world around us, or at the very least to head out in the yard and play catch.

One of the things many people love to do most outdoors in this season is barbecue, and just about any excuse to fire up the grill will do. But the increase in grilling and backyard activity also unfortunately means a rise in spring and summer fires.

In fact, spring sees more daily fires on average than any other time of year. But keeping fires at bay is pretty simple, and you can stay ahead of the curve by observing a few simple guidelines:

The grill. The grill is the first thing to check to avoid fires caused in springtime. This is only natural because grills are basically billboards for fire danger. Make sure your grill is sturdy and on solid ground, away from anything flammable. Don’t use liquid accelerants to make your fire burn quicker or hotter (the same goes for fire pits), always stay with the grill while it’s cooking and make sure to clean it between uses. Almost 20% of grill fires are due to poor cleaning.

The fire pit. Visions of marshmallows roast in your head at this time of year, and you should by all means make them a reality. But be safe with your fire pit! Avoid flying embers by using a grate cover, keeping leaves and pine needles out of the fire and extinguishing your fire slowly instead of dumping water on it suddenly. Don’t ever leave it unattended, and don’t allow pets or kids near unsupervised.

Chimneys and dryer vents. While you’re thinking about fire safety, go ahead and clean that chimney out, removing dangerous soot and ash from inside, so you don’t end up with a hazard in the fall when you need your fireplace again. Take off your dryer’s vent pipe, removing any dangerous lint from the inside—and do this again in six months.

Your local SERVPRO of Shippensburg/Perry County technicians are on hand 24⁄7 for emergencies. If you encounter fire damage at your home or business, no matter the cause, we will be there faster and have it cleaned up sooner. Call us today and experience the SERVPRO difference.