Increased Risk of Fire in the Summer

4/23/2024 (Permalink)

This House Sustained Significant Fire Damage

Spring is in full swing, and the warm weather just does something to us. It renews a sense of hope and purpose after the long, cold winter.

It invites us to enjoy nature as plants show off their blooms and days grow long, and of course it beckons us to engage in that time-honored tradition: the cookout.

But all the fun of graduation and gender reveal parties, family reunions, and backyard social functions carries with it the inherent danger of accidental fires. In fact, spring sees more daily fires on average than any other time of year.

So before you get your backyard fires going this year, let’s look at a few things.

The Grill. Grills are the No. 1 culprit for cooking accidents in spring and summer. They practically beg to start a blaze somewhere, with their dangerous combinations of high heat and combustible elements. So before you start those chicken wings, make sure your grill is free of defects, on stable ground and being operated safely. And don’t forget about cleaning up when you’re done! Almost 20% of grill fires are due to poor cleaning.

The Fire Pit. Gathering around a backyard fire pit with friends is a great way to spend a breezy evening, and that’s not even counting the blessing of marshmallows. But make sure your fire pit time is spent safely. Use a grate to cut down on potential flying embers, and don’t add leaves or paper to your fires, because they create lots of easily spreadable embers. Always attend to the fire, and never leave kids or pets alone beside the blaze.

Chimneys and dryer vents. While these are unrelated to backyard activities, they’re definitely fire hazards that you should manage while you’re thinking about fire safety. Clean out the chimney so you’re not starting fires in tubes full of ash and soot when fall rolls around, and make sure there’s no built-up lint in your dryer’s vent pipe just waiting to be ignited by high heat.

Your local SERVPRO® 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 or click today and experience the SERVPRO® difference.