Beware Of Spontaneous Combustion

This has been a pretty dry season this year.  We definitely haven’t seen as much rain this summer as we have in the past.  With these dryer conditions, it is much easier for fires to start.  One very common way for fires to start, is spontaneous combustion.

Many people like to stain their decks and outside furniture, this time of year because the weather is milder and it’s not quite as warm.

But many fires are happening because folks are not properly disposing of rags used for staining, properly.  These rags become soaked in the stain or oil, then they are thrown in the garbage.  We tend to forget that any compression can generate heat, it’s science 101.  That’s how the fire starts.  We are seeing an increased number of fires blamed on this type of spontaneous combustion.

If you have the old paint can, put the rags in a paint can, only about half to three-quarters full and fill the rest full of water.  That way that oil and stains can compress, they can’t start to generate the heat and can’t start on fire.

Of course there are many other ways that fires are starting around the area, but this is just one type that we all need to be aware of, especially if we are doing more of the at home projects this time of year.  Just remember to use some common sense and use the proper precautions .