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Photo of firefighters fighting grass fire with in a charred field

In the last few weeks, the Mississippi Mills Fire Department has responded to six grass/structure fires, five of which ignited from discarded ashes.

Many people don’t realize the length of time required for ashes to cool enough for disposal. Coals and ashes from fires can remain hot enough to reignite and start a fire for many days after the fire is out. The exact amount of time for complete extinguishment and cooling depends on many factors such as how hot the fire was, what was burning, how much unburned fuel remains, etc.

Please exercise caution and follow these tips to ensure proper disposal of ashes:

  • 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 or stove and anything combustible.

  • Teach all family members to be safe with ashes from your fireplace or wood stove.

For more information, visit www.mississippimills.ca/fire.