Fire Safety Around the Backyard | SERVPRO® of Lowell

6/9/2021 (Permalink)

Many people relish spring as a favorite season, and what’s not to love? The cold of winter has left us, trees and plants are blooming and beautifying the landscape again, and the outdoors beckon us to activity. We might even get really crazy and do some of that running we said we’d start doing in January.

Spring and summer also bring ample opportunities for outdoor barbecues and gatherings, which in turn also give rise to the number of accidental fires in and around homes.

In fact, spring sees more daily fires on average than any other time of year. But don’t worry—there are a few simple ways you can safeguard your backyard activities from fire this season.

The grill. Let’s start with the biggest culprit of accidental spring and summer fires, the beloved grill. Grills present an inherent fire risk and danger, ubiquitous in society as they may be, but the close combination of flames and combustible elements creates prime opportunity for fires. So play it safe. Only use grills that are in good working order, operated on stable ground and that have no leaks or holes. Keep the grill away from any flammable objects, and don’t forget to clean it regularly. Almost 20% of grill fires are due to poor cleaning!

The fire pit. The fire pit is a favorite new home feature, and it encourages social time in a relaxed atmosphere, a situation in which many of us thrive. But again, safety is paramount: Use a grate to keep embers from flying, and put out the fire slowly when you’re done for the same reason. Never leave the fire alone, and never leave children alone with the fire. And keep a bucket of water on hand, not just to extinguish the fire, but to have in case ash escapes the pit and finds the ground.

Chimneys and dryer vents. These are general safety tips, but now’s a good time to take care of them, too. Get rid of ash and soot that can cause a fire hazard when you need the fireplace again in the fall, and check your dryer’s vent pip for dangerous, flammable lint.

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.