GREENSBORO, N.C. — As brush fires burn near the Triad, and our area is in a moderate drought, Greensboro's Deputy Fire Marshal Nick Jackson says there are 3 common mistakes people make that can easily start a brush fire.
Mistake number 1
Jackson said he’s seen fires because people did not clean up the space around a backyard fire pit before burning.
“You want to keep the fire pit around the away from the house, but in this situation with the dry conditions, you want to make sure there is no dry shrubbery,” Jackson said. “I know a lot of plants are becoming dry right now. Pine needles. You want to make sure all of that is clear of the area.”
And remember the fire pit should be at least 25 feet away from the house - and you need a hose nearby in case things get out of control.
Mistake number 2
People dispose of their charcoal before the coals are fully out.
“It's better to leave it in the grill for a quite a while and don't take your grill close to the house,” Jackson said.
And there’s no need to spray the coals with water to put them out.
“Just put the lid back on it. That is also important. You don't want to leave it open and have some leaves or pine needles fall on it and have it spread,” Jackson said.
Mistake 3
You want to be careful how you dispose of cigarettes. Never throw them on the ground, and make sure you have the right kind of ashtray.
“What I do when I do an inspection is recommend that they have some noncombustible metal container. A lot of people put sand in it. That's helpful. And, watching it go out. And just not assuming it goes out,” Jackson said.
You also want to empty your ashtray often. Firefighters did a test burn a while back on Facebook to show how even a flowerpot that's stuff too full of buds can catch fire.
A smoldering cigarette can turn into an open flame in less than one minute. They also recommended putting sand or water in the bottom of your ashtray to help put the buds out.