Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department issued the following announcement on Nov. 20
Celebrating the upcoming holiday season with a fire in your fireplace or outside in your fire pit? Please make sure you do so safely! While a joyous time of year, it is also a time that we traditionally experience home fires that are caused by improperly discarded fireplace/fire pit ashes.
The Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department would like to remind all residents to be cautious and keep safety in mind when handling fireplace/fire pit ashes. Following a few simple safety tips can help keep you and your loved ones safe this holiday season.
- Do not discard your ashes into any combustible container such as a paper or plastic bag, a cardboard box, or a plastic trash can.
- Do not place ash containers on decks, porches, or in garages.
- Put ashes into a non-combustible metal container with a lid.
- Pour water into the container to make sure the ashes are cool.
- Keep your can OUTSIDE the home, away from your fireplace or stove and anything combustible.
- Teach all family members to be safe with ashes from your fireplace, fire pit or wood stove.
- Ashes can stay hot for several days. Follow the above steps even when you wait several days to remove the ashes from the fireplace/fire pit.
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