Fire Pit Ignites Wood Deck - 60K in Damages is The Result

DO NOT USE FIRE PITS ON DECKS! DO NOT USE FIRE PITS ON DECKS! 

A family escaped with smoke damage to the interior and about 60k in dagaes to their deck and exterior of the home when embers from a fire pit on the wood deck apparently were blown out onto the deck. The deck ignited and the siding did to. Lucky these people weren't killed...

From wkbn.com 

"The Girard Fire Department says the family had been burning wood in a fire pit on the wooden deck on Sunday night. They believe that wind may have kicked up an ember in the ashes and started the blaze."

Watch the TV report here 

"Extinguished" Cigar in Potting Soil Ignites, Causing ONE MILLION in Damage!

Yeah, you read that right...the estimate is One Million dollars plus contents when an unidentified man placed a cigar into a potted plant to put it out. Most potting soil contains a lot of organic matter that can ignite, and this cigar ignited the soil in the pot, bursting into flame and causing enormous damage.

SIOUX FALLS, SD - 

Sioux Falls Fire Rescue is ruling an apartment building fire accidental, and officials don't plan on filing charges.  A cigar sparked the flames, which led to more about $1 million in fire damage. The fire started on a deck of the third floor of a building at Penbrooke Place. Insurance adjusters are still trying to determine whether the owners can save the building.

READ THE REST HERE   http://www.keloland.com/newsdetail.cfm/cigar-potting-soil-spark-1-million-fire/?id=180756

Free wildfire safety webinar slated for November On-line presentation features Firewise principles, information and resources for people in the wildland-urban interface

10/11/2011

Free wildfire safety webinar slated for November

On-line presentation features Firewise principles, information and resources for people in the wildland-urban interface 

With the 2011 wildfire season on its way to becoming one of the worst on record, the Firewise staff knows how important it is for residents living and working in wildfire high-risk areas to get the information they need to mitigate their wildfire risk and reduce losses.

Please join me, Michele Steinberg, program manager of NFPA’s Firewise Communities Program, at 1 p.m. Eastern time on Tuesday, November 8, for an online wildfire safety presentation featuring the Firewise program. Learn how wildfires behave and homes ignite. We will also review Firewise resources and materials available to help homeowners and neighbors work together to design a safe community.

Have questions for me? This is the perfect way to share your thoughts with others who face the same challenges in their own communities.  I encourage you to submit your questions through November 7^th.   And don’t forget to register for the free wildfire safety webinar! 

Like social media? We’ll also live Tweet via Twitter. Mark it in your calendar and tweet the webinar using hashtage #Firewise or submit your question to @Firewise.

In the meantime, our online newsletters, “The How To” and “Fire Break” are a great source for the latest news and information about NFPA’s Wildland Fire Operations Division, our Firewise Communities/USA Recognition Program and other wildland fire resources to help you get started. Subscriptions to both newsletters are free. Why not sign up today?

We look forward to having you join us on November 8!

-Michele