Fire safety education after recent house fire

Across the country, an estimated 95,000 outside fires involving property of value (6 percent of the fires in 2022) caused $250 million in direct property damage in 2022 according to the National Fire Protection Association. The Bloomington Fire Department would like to provide the following safety information regarding outdoor fires.   

BE SAFE: Follow the City of Bloomington ordinance regarding recreational fires and treat ALL ashes and coals as HOT ashes, even when you think they had time enough to cool. Take care to dispose of them wisely. Your house, deck or garage are unsafe locations for storing ashes while they cool and have been the site of many recent and devastating fires both locally and nationally. Store cooled ashes in a tightly covered metal container and keep it outside and at least 10 feet from your home or nearby buildings.

Follow these simple fire safety tips:

• Burn only dry clean wood.
• Have an appropriate means of extinguishment.
• Must be constantly attended by a responsible person within sight of the flames.
• Sustained winds must be less than 10 miles per hour.
• 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, stove or grill and anything combustible.