Summer Fire Safety Tips from SERVPRO of Kailua

6/21/2021 (Permalink)

Don't let a house fire interrupt your summer plans! Take these tips from SERVPRO of Kailua to have a safe summer.

Summer is a beautiful time in Kailua. The sun is out later, fewer rain clouds can be found and it just feels like life has a new freshness to it. It's hard to stay inside this time of year. The natural beauty lures us outside. Whether it is a graduation party, gender reveal, church function or large family reunions you have this summer, you are likely to find a grill that's barbecuing some steaks, kabobs or veggies to be smoking in the background. The backyard activity is a time-honored tradition but unfortunately comes with an increase in home fires. In fact, springtime sees more house fires than any other time of year. Here are some tips from SERVPRO of Central Honolulu to have a fun and fire-safe summer. 

The grill. Grills get the finger pointed at them first for spring home fires, but they’ve earned the stereotype. The combination of high heat and flammable materials, sometimes even an open flame, give fires and easy place to manifest. Make sure your grill is in good working order with no leaks or weaknesses in the structure, keep it away from anything flammable (including decking or siding), and clean it thoroughly when you’re finished. Almost 20% of grill fires are due to poor cleaning.

The fire pit. Backyard conversations around the fire pit are a regular occurrence during these months, but make sure you’re doing it safely. Have a bucket of water within arm’s reach to douse any dancing flames, and use it to slowly and safely put out the fire when you’re done. Embers should be cool to the touch before you go inside. Also, don’t use leaves or pine needles in your fire, because they create lots of tiny embers that can travel easily on the wind. Never leave fires unattended, and never leave children or pets by the fire alone.

Chimneys and dryer vents. It’s rare for homes in our area to have fireplaces, but if you do, take steps to care for it now. Instead of waiting until fall, clean your chimney out now that winter is over, and get rid of soot and ash buildup inside that creates a fire hazard. And clean your dryer’s vent pipe, ensuring no lint has caked inside—that stuff goes up in flames quickly.