As the weather improves, many people find themselves wanting to spend more time outdoors. Fire pits and outdoor fireplaces offer an excellent way to extend the amount of time that can be comfortably spent outdoors with family and friends.
When planning for your outdoor fireplace or fire pit, comfort and ease of access seem to top the list-but the safety of your family, home or business, and guests should be the top priority. By following a few simple suggestions, you can avoid having your latest home or business improvement project become a nightmare.
Here are a few things to consider when protecting your home and family from a fire:
Proximity to combustible materials. It is recommended that you keep any combustible materials a minimum of 10 feet away from your fireplace.
The type of fuel. Wood, gas, or charcoal are the most popular and safest fuels to use in a fire pit or outdoor fireplace. Don’t use chemicals or combustibles, like lighter fluid or gasoline, to get the flames going.
Placement. Never place your fireplace on a wooden deck as hot embers can quickly ruin an evening.
Supervisionand prevention. Always supervise children and pets when a fire pit or outdoor fireplace is in use. Children easily fall and pets sometimes miscalculate their jumps. Many fire pits and fireplaces come with metal grates or curtains that can be placed on top of them–use them.
Proper disposal. Never dispose of hot ashes in a plastic waste receptacle. Instead, wait until the ashes have cooled and place them in a trash can made out of metal
Be ready. Make sure to have a garden hose, bucket of water, and/or a fire extinguisher close by when using your fireplace or fire pit.
Don’t break the law. Before installing a fire pit or outdoor fireplace, check with your local fire department see if these items are legal to use in your area. Some cities allow outdoor fireplaces only for ascetic purposes, but not for use as a heat source.
The KidsPeace residential center in North Whitehall Township, Pennsylvania reported a fire early on Thursday morning. None of the resident youth or staff were injured. Firefighters were on the scene from about 3:00 am to 7:00 pm. It is believed a circuit breaker in the building failed, causing the fire.
KidsPeace is a private charity that serves children and teens. Services offered at their various locations include behavioral and psychiatric services, residential group homes, foster care services, juvenile justice programs, and alternative education for those who struggle in their school of origin.
Mark Stubis, a spokesperson for KidsPeace, was complimentary when he spoke about the staff that dealt with the incident, saying: “Fortunately our people reacted quickly and very well. The alarm went off, the sprinkler system started working and the local fire departments put out the fire. Our warmest thanks go to the local fire departments.”
Stubis also spoke about the upcoming difficulties the center will face as it begins the restoration process: “Our biggest challenge now is getting clean drinking water.”
Lehighvalleylive.com also reports the building that housed the youth not only suffered extensive fire damage, but also significant water damage in several parts of the building as a result of the sprinkler system.
Pacific Community Services, Inc. suffered the damages of a costly two-alarm fire that began this morning. Investigators are estimating the damages will total about $1-million.
Pacific Community Services, Inc., located in Pittsburg, is a nonprofit organization that served the Contra Costa and Solano Counties by providing assistance with fair housing counseling and enforcement. The staff worked on their clients’ behalves to help enforce compliance, settle disputes, and provide referrals to essential services.
The fire began a little after midnight and firefighters were able to contain the blaze in the 7,500-square-foot building by 3:43 am, according to Mercury News. Although the cause of the fire is not yet known, it is estimated the agency has about $100,000 worth of property damage within the building. No one was injured during this incident.
Fires, when they hit a business, do not only affect those that work for the company. As one can see from this story, the many people this office served will now be affected, especially if the client files were not backed-up. Clients in need may now have to wait longer for services they needed yesterday. Business continuity in the shortest amount of time possible will be essential in this situation.
At least 108 people are estimated to be dead by the wildfires in Melbourne, Australia that have wiped-out at least 750 homes. The Guardianhas compared this event to a “smouldering, post-apocalyptic wasteland” that has taken out the town of Marysville.
More than 330,000 hectares have been destroyed. Officials are estimating it will “weeks” to just contain the fires. The region of Australia affected by the blazes has experienced record-setting heat and strong winds that made fire-fighting conditions worse. Arsonists are blamed for the deadly fires.
A man in Massachusetts with all the right intentions wanted to help his 80-year-old mother by quickly riding her back porch of ice so she would not fall.
The Boston Globe reports the man was hesitant to use salt since it could corrode the bricks on the building. However, sand and salts were used on the front porch. Using a snow shovel was a bit more work than the man was willing to do. The next best idea that came to mind was fire.
The man grabbed the blowtorch he used to light his grill and attempted to combat the ice:
“…The fire quickly jumped to the vinyl siding on the back of the house on Davis Street and shot up four stories, charring much of the rear of the house. Several windows were broken and, on other parts of the facade, the wood frame of the house was exposed.”
No one was injured in the fire. Read the full story.
