Tips To Avoid a Summer House Fire

The summer season is one of the best times of the year to be outside in our community! The weather is warmer, the sun shines brightly, and our neighborhoods come alive. One of the best parts of the summer is how it brings everyone together outside for parties, barbecues, and bonfires. 

Unfortunately, the number of house fires also spikes during the summer season due to these activities. While house fires aren’t completely preventable, there are many things you can do in your daily life to reduce your risk. Read on to learn some of the top tips to avoid a summer house fire below.

Common Summer Fire Hazards

To start, it’s important to know how most house fires start. Knowing this information can help you pivot your activities to help reduce your risk even more.

Outdoor Grilling

What says summertime more than a backyard BBQ? Outdoor grilling, unfortunately, accounts for around 9,000 home fires every year. These accidents typically occur due to negligence of the flames or if the grill was improperly set up in the first place.

Fireworks

Whether you are celebrating Independence Day or are simply enjoying an evening outside, it’s crucial that you are aware of your surroundings when lighting off fireworks. Even a single spark in a dry patch of vegetation can lead to a serious problem. It is also important to remember the local firework laws in our community so you can reduce your risk even more.

Rogue Bonfires

Another common reason for house fires, and even widespread wildfires, is rogue bonfires. Small bonfires can be a great way to stay warm while spending an evening under the stars, but those flames can quickly get out of control if you aren’t careful. Sparking logs or flames that get a bit too close to dry branches above the fire pit can lead to a rapidly spreading fire.

Understanding How Fire Spreads

If you are enjoying any one of these activities and a fire breaks out, every second counts regarding your reaction. Fire spreads fast, especially if you are in a particularly dry area or don’t notice the situation right away. 

Within the first 30 seconds of a house fire, the fire will spread to consume anything flammable in its path. The surrounding grass, your deck, and even your siding will quickly catch fire. 

Within a minute, it can climb to other levels of your home and start burning through the interior of your house. 

Within five minutes, your entire home may be engulfed in flames, and it can become a dangerous or deadly situation if anyone is still stuck inside. Make sure your family understands your fire emergency plan so they can react immediately to keep everyone safe. 

Once 911 is called and the authorities arrive, the focus will be on containing the blaze and protecting your remaining structures. Unfortunately, fire damage can spread well beyond the area where the flames occurred. Soot and smoke residue can be found in every level of your home, even in areas where the flames never touched. That can result in an extensive and frustrating recovery process. This is why fire prevention is so important!

Fire Safety Tip #1: Grill Safely 

One of the biggest things you can do is to practice safe grilling. Whether you have a gas or charcoal grill, be sure it is set up at least 10 feet from anything flammable. This includes your siding, a shed, any roof overhangs, and your deck itself. If you have a wooden or flammable deck, a single spark or hot ash can quickly lead to an uncontrollable blaze. 

If your grill runs off of propane, check the propane tank before you even start up your grill. Look for dents and imperfections, and check the line for loose connections. If your grill uses charcoal, clean out the ash tray before each use, and check the lid for imperfections as well.

Once your grill is lit, never leave it unattended. Designate a grill master to be in charge of the flames at all times, and keep a buffer zone around the grill to keep kids and pets away from potential danger.

Fire Safety Tip #2: Use Fireworks Responsibly

Fireworks can be so fun, but only when they are used responsibly. Only light sparkling fireworks that are within your local ordinance laws, and never set them up in a dry part of your yard. Use extreme caution when lighting each firework and keep your spectators at least 35 feet away.

Did you know that lighting more than one firework at a time can lead to an uncontrollable flare-up? This is true even for handheld sparklers. Light one at a time and always keep a water source nearby. 

Finally, consider skipping the real flames and use glow sticks instead! Your kids will have just as much fun running around with glow sticks, and you can enjoy a fire-free evening.

Fire Safety Tip #3: Control Your Bonfires

If you like having bonfires, keep your bonfire pit well-maintained at all times. Clear brush away from the ring and trim overhanging branches regularly. If you use a portable fire pit, make sure it is not missing any pieces or has any holes in the drum.

Only light approved materials like wood and paper, and never use chemical accelerants. When you are done for the evening, soak your entire bonfire pit with water to extinguish the flames. The logs and ash should be cool to the touch before you go inside for the evening.

Recovering From a House Fire

Even if you do everything right, house fires do still happen. If you become the victim of a house fire of any size, you must hire a professional fire damage restoration team to handle your recovery. 

Doing so ensures that your property is restored in its entirety, including ash, soot, and smoke residue. A professional restoration team will also rebuild sections of your home if they were damaged beyond repair. Trust the team at Exit Mold to get it done for you.

Summer house fires can be devastating. Let Exit Mold handle your fire damage restoration quickly and efficiently. Call us today at (516) 512-7877 to learn how we can help you.