Fire Safety Tips for Spring and Summer | SERVPRO® of West Milwaukee

6/25/2021 (Permalink)

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Spring is a favorite season for a number of people. The weather is warming and winter is left behind, kids have the excitement that comes with the end of school, and everything just feels fresh and new. Leaves and flowers bloom, and the outdoors calls like an old friend.

We often have lots of opportunities to attend outdoor gatherings—cookouts, barbecues and the like. We get together for family reunions and gender reveals, and whatever excuse we can come up with to grill.

The downside of the increase in outdoor activities, however, is that it brings with it an increase in fire activity across the United States. In fact, spring sees more daily fires on average than any other time of year.

But there are some common sense steps you can take to ensure all your activities are fire-safe.

The grill. This is probably what comes to mind first when you think of outdoor fire risks and rightly so. Grills, beloved though they may be, create perfect opportunities for out-of-control fire, with the close combination of heat, grease and flames. Ensure that any grill has no leaks, is stable and in good working order, keep it away from anything flammable (including the house), and clean it well between uses. Almost 20% of grill fires are due to poor cleaning.

The fire pit. Many homeowners love their fire pits, especially in mild seasons like spring and fall, when you can gather on cool evenings with friends. But fire pits must be carefully maintained and operated in order to have a safe gathering. Never use accelerants like lighter fluid to increase the flames, and always keep a bucket of water within arm’s reach, both for emergencies and to cool the fire at evening’s end. When you do put out the fire, pour the water slowly so as not to spread potentially hazardous ash and embers. Use a grill grate to cover your fire, and never let kids near the fire pit unattended.

Chimneys and dryer vent. While you’re thinking about fire safety, go ahead and check your dryer vent for built-up, flammable lint, and clean your chimney so you don’t have to deal with a buildup of soot and ash when you fire it up again in the fall.

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.