Discarded smoking materials and bark mulch equal a hazardous duo Richmond, BC – This past July, Richmond Fire-Rescue responded to 45 outdoor fires attributed to cigarettes and smoking materials being carelessly disposed of near areas with bark mulch. With the provincial government moving the fire danger rating to high this week, everyone needs to take precautions. “With our summer’s dry heat, low rainfall and abnormal winds, bark mulch–a common landscaping ground covering in Richmond–can become the prime ingredient to spark significant fire hazards when people discard smoking materials haphazardly,” said Deputy Chief Kim Howell. “The simple behaviour of tossing a lit cigarette out of a car window, for example, can cause the lit cigarette to land on a dry lawn, garden, grasslands or peat and result in a very destructive fire.” Human-caused fires are considered preventable fires. Not only do they present significant risk to safety and life, they tie up fire-rescue resources that could be focused on other public services. Fires started by cigarettes and other smoking materials tend to result in more property damage than fires started by other sources. By familiarizing yourself and your neighbours with the following safety tips, the rise in these fires can be prevented. · Create a non-combustible barrier between your home and your bark mulch, minimum ½ metre. · If smoking outside of your house, be sure to douse butts in a proper ashtray, not flower beds or bark mulch, as these tend to induce smouldering. · Keep smoking materials away from anything that can burn (i.e., mattresses, bedding, upholstered furniture, draperies, etc.). · Never smoke in bed when drowsy, medicated or intoxicated as this could lead to falling asleep with a lighted cigarette. · Use large, deep, non-tip ashtrays to prevent ashes from spilling onto furniture and check them frequently. Do not rest ashtrays on sofas or chairs. · Completely douse butts and ashes with water before throwing them away as they can smoulder in the trash and cause a fire. If outdoors, bring along an old bottle with a little water in it, dump your matches and cigarette butts into the bottle. · Whenever someone has been smoking in a home, always check on, between and under upholstery and cushions and inside trashcans for butts that may be smouldering. · When smokers visit your home, ask them to keep smoking materials, lighters and matches with them so young children do not touch them. Keep matches and lighters out of children’s sight and reach (preferably in a locked cabinet). If anyone sees smouldering or flames in Richmond gardens, grasslands or parks, call 911 immediately. To learn more about fire and life safety, contact Richmond Fire-Rescue at 604-278-5131, [email protected] or visit richmond.ca/safety/firerescue/prevention.
Posted on: Fri, 09 Aug 2013 19:10:34 +0000