Leading Causes of Summertime Fires

6/9/2022 (Permalink)

Enjoy your summertime activities SAFELY!

Enjoying the outdoors during the summertime months is one of the top perks of living in Florida.  Warm temperatures, plenty of sunshine, and beautiful beaches are just a few of the draws that our area has to offer.  Due to our average climate, many top fire hazards, such as space heaters and fireplaces, that plague colder states are not as much of an issue for us.  We must, however, consider other sources of fire damage that are common in warmer climates, and take fire safety seriously.

Cooking Fires:  these can be inclusive of indoor cooking on a stovetop or range, as well as the highly popular summertime activity of outdoor grilling.  Cooking equipment should never be left unattended while in use.  You should have a method of extinguishing a fire (whether water hose, fire extinguisher, etc.) available nearby at all times in case of emergency.  Do not allow children or pets to play around cooking equipment, as this can be both a burn safety issues and a hazardous fire risk.  Finally, make sure no flammable materials are near cooking equipment when in use.  Do not leave towels or oven mitts on stove top, and make sure outdoor grills have a safety zone around them free of foliage and structures.

Campfires:  No family camping trip is complete without a campfire, roasted hot dogs, and delicious melty s’mores!  Properly igniting, maintaining, and extinguishing your campfire is imperative to keeping the fun going and avoiding disaster.  Make sure the campfire is built in a contained area, such as a fire pit, and is not built on top of materials that can allow the fire to spread.  Do not build a fire underneath hanging branches, or near buildings.  When you are finished using your fire, make sure it is completely extinguished with water.  You may also want to bury your embers as an added precaution.

Fireworks: Many summertime celebrations and holidays include the use of fireworks.  If used improperly, fireworks can be extremely dangerous both to personal safety and property.  Always follow the manufacturer instructions when using fireworks.  Fireworks should only be handled by responsible adults and used in an environment that is free of surrounding buildings.  Make sure fireworks are fully extinguished after use by soaking in a bucket of water.

We hope that you and your family have a wonderful and fun filled summer!  In the unfortunate event that your summertime activities do result in fire damages to your property, remember that the SERVPRO of Northwest Escambia team is here to help.  With extensive fire, soot, and smoke damage remediation training, our team offers 24/7 emergency response to start the mitigation process.  To learn more about the services we offer, or request assistance, please give our office a call at 850-466-3089!