Keep Your Recreational Fire in Control | SERVPRO of East Cobb

8/11/2022 (Permalink)

If you have experienced fire or smoke damage, contact SERVPRO of East Cobb.

Building and enjoying a fire in your own backyard can lead to family memories that will last a lifetime. There is nothing better than roasting hot dogs, toasting marshmallows and spinning stories of years gone by.

We often turn to building a fire or using an open flame for many different reasons, including cooking a meal, controlling the pests or clearing out loose limbs and leaves. Even when we feel most in control of a fire, though, it can turn dangerous instantly. The National Park Service found that 85% of wildfires are started by humans.

Wildfires may seem like a foreign concept for us in Georgia, but when the summer turns dry and the humidity is low, a grass fire or fire in a wooded area can grow uncontrollable. Just this past June, we saw multiple high fire warning days in our county when the relative humidity took a plunge. The risk is always there for us, so staying fire-aware is essential.

This does not mean you can’t get out and enjoy your backyard. Grill your hamburgers, light your tiki torches and burn your marshmallows (they really are better burnt), but follow city regulations and put safety measures in place to mitigate your chances of danger.

Recreational Fire Hazards

While there are risks any time you light something, grills, campfires and fireworks are some of the top ways that outdoor fires are started. Each year, there are an average of 8,800 home fires started by improper use of a grill. Before you start cooking, be sure to check your propane tank or gas line, and never walk away from a hot grill.

If you are going to have a campfire, select a location safely away from structures or vehicles, and only use a match or lighter to start it. Once the fire is going, stick to approved firewood as fuel, and after all the chocolate has been eaten, make sure you watch the embers until they are completely out.

Fire pits are a backyard staple these days, but even with their convenience factor they should still be handled with the same safety measures as a regular campfire. If your fire pit is portable, be sure to never place it on a wooden surface or a surface with an overhang.

It may feel like an easy solution to use your fire pit to dispose of household waste or even left over construction materials from your latest project, but you should stick to wood approved for burning only.

If you choose to end one of your evenings with a bang, be sure to check local regulations for your area. Fireworks are legal in our county, but there are restrictions on usage hours. Fireworks are not allowed in county parks, so be sure you have proper space to both light and land your explosives away from those areas.

Other Outdoor Fire Hazards

Despite the risks they carry, fire and combustible materials serve a purpose in our lives. When fall sets in and our trees shed their leaves, we all know how essential cleanup is. If you live in an area that does not offer curbside pickup or other measures of waste disposal, burning them may be your only option.

Open burning is permitted from October through April, but is restricted to between the hours of 10 a.m. to sunset. Before you start a fire, be sure to check with the county for any warnings, and ensure you are meeting all the regulations required.

Cleaning up your yard is a helpful way of preventing wildfires, and combined with intentional landscaping it can actually protect your home as well. Make sure you understand what to burn and when before you start your fire so you can keep it from getting it out of control.

If you have yard tools, you probably have gas stored in a shed or garage as well. Improper storage can have terrible results, so make sure you only use approved containers and keep gas far out of the reach of kids. Gas should only be used as intended, which means reaching for the gas can when your campfire isn’t quite big enough is not a good idea.

Any time you are going to have a fire outside, be sure to check the local weather forecast and any regulations that may be in place for that day. If it is windy or has been dry for a while, skip the fire and save the marshmallows.

If you experience fire damage on your property, give SERVPRO of East Cobb a call. Our team is trained and ready with the proper equipment to restore as much of your home as we are able. Our goal is to get your restoration completed quickly and get you back to your life.

Burn safely outdoors. And save some chocolate for us! If you have experienced fire or smoke damage, contact us today to get restoration started faster.