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Hot ashes are blamed for second fire in two days
McCOOK, Neb. -- McCook, Nebraska firefighters responded Tuesday afternoon to the second fire in two days blamed on hot ashes carried out of a fireplace.
Fire chief Marc Harpham reported this morning that a garage and its contents, two vehicles and a camper trailer owned by Robert Frazier, 1103 E. Fourth, were destroyed in the Tuesday fire.
Harpham reports that Frazier had discarded ashes from his fireplace into a fire bucket, letting them cool and watering them down. He then placed the bucket next to the garage. Harpham said that hot embers in the bucket rekindled and started dry grass on fire, spreading to the adjacent garage, pickup, camper and the neighbors' back yard at 1101 E. Fourth.
Trees and undergrowth in the 400 block of Apollo were charred Monday evening by a fire also started by hot ashes.
Harpham wrote in a press release that the Frazier fire was reported at 3:19 p.m., and firefighters found the detached garage, lean-to, pickup and camper burning, and the blaze spreading to the neighbors' grass.
Harpham said firefighters had the fire under control within 15 minutes, although they were hampered by a fuel leak from the pickup. "As the fuel leaked out from underneath the vehicle, it would ignite and spread the fire," Harpham said. Firefighters used firefighting foam and a carbon dioxide extinguisher to finally extinguish the fuel-fed fire.
Harpham estimated damaged at $11,000.
Twenty firefighters, one pumper truck, ladder truck, rescue truck, ambulance and command vehicle were on the scene for about one hour and 45 minutes to extinguish the fire and investigate its cause.
Harpham said that with the cold weather, many people are using fireplaces and wood-burning stoves to heat their homes. "The fact is that coals and ashes from fires can remain hot enough to start a fire for many days after you think the fire is out," he said. "The exact amount of time for complete extinguishment and cooling depends on many factors, such as how hot the fire was, what was burning and how much unburned fuel remains."
To be safe, Harpham urged that users simply treat all ashes and coals as hot, "even when you think they had time enough to cool."
To properly dispose of ashes or coals, he recommends the following:
If possible, allow ashes and coals to cool in the area where you had the fire for several days. These devices are designed to contain their heat safely.
When it is time to dispose of the ashes, transfer them to a metal container and wet them down.
Keep the metal container outside your home and away from any combustibles until the refuse is hauled away.
DO NOT place any other combustibles in the metal container.
DO NOT use a combustible container.
More fireplace safety tips:
Have your chimney inspected annually, and cleaned as necessary, by a professional chimney sweep to ensure it is clear of obstructions and creosote.
Repair any cracks in your chimney and fireplace.
Use fireplace screens to keep sparks and fire debris inside the fireplace.
Do not use an accelerant to start a fire.
Ensure the fire is completely out before going to bed or leaving the house.
Make sure the area around the fireplace is clear of all combustibles (Three feet away is a good rule).
Keep all children and pets a safe distance from fireplaces.
Install both smoke and carbon monoxide alarms.
Keep a fire extinguisher on hand.
Observe all safety precautions when using outdoor fireplaces they can be just as dangerous as indoor units.