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Outdoor Fires and Safety | SERVPRO of West Forsyth County
9/19/2023 (Permalink)
Bonfire season is upon us! SERVPRO of West Forsyth County has your back with these helpful fire safety tips.
Have you felt any cool breezes yet? It may still be warm out, but fall is so close. Before you know it, evenings will be chilly and leaves will be crunchy. We can finally get out our pumpkin decorations and drink hot chocolate all day.
This is the perfect season for fire pits and roasted marshmallows as well. As you gather around the flames, though, make sure you do so safely in order to keep your home and your family protected.
At SERVPRO® , we are always ready to respond when your property experiences damage after a disaster, but we also want to help you stay safe. We want to make sure you know all the ways to prevent a bonfire from ever becoming anything other than a great way to spend an evening.
Keep things safe by doing a few things:
Do find the safest spot possible to have your fire. Choose a location that is open with no low hanging branches, free of leaf and other debris and away from structures.
Do keep water at hand. A bucket full can dampen anything that gets out of control before it becomes a problem. If there isn’t a way to keep water close, have a shovel and water or sand you can quickly toss on rogue flames.
Do take a look at the forecast. Even a light breeze can carry red hot embers into flammable materials and create a disaster. Check for weather advisories, and take a look at local burn bans and regulations. Those can change quickly, so always check before lighting anything.
Make the whole evening safe by avoiding a few things you don’t want to do:
Don’t burn anything except firewood. Adding lighter fluid or other accelerants to your fire can result in a dangerous situation. Avoid throwing anything else in the fire as well to prevent out of control flames.
Don’t play near the fire. If you put out yard games, keep them a safe distance away. Make sure children and pets understand not to run or walk close to the flames in order to prevent accidents.
Don’t make a big fire. A small fire in a fire pit can be more enjoyable because you won’t have to worry about it getting out of control. Keep it small to prevent flames from wandering away and starting a disaster.
Don’t walk away from a warm fire pit. When you are done enjoying your evening, pour water on your flames and stick by them until everything is completely out and the embers have begun to cool.
Many wildfires are started by human error or negligence. If you are going to spend time enjoying your evening around a fire, make sure you are doing everything you can to protect your home and the environment.
If you do have damage from a fire, we are here to help. Our SERVPRO crew is always ready to respond and get your life put back together fast. Call us so you can get back to enjoying the beauty of fall.
Fire can cause a lot of damage in a short amount of time. Contact us day or night for immediate assistance.