ash cans

Tahoe Douglas Fire offers free ash cans to prevent fires

Two Kingsbury Grade area residences sustained major damage recently due to the incorrect disposal of hot ashes in the back yard of one of homes.

A 2014 fire in the northern end of Washoe Valley Drive Fire destroyed 29 homes, charred 3,177 acres and caused the death of an elderly woman after a man improperly discarded hot fireplace ashes.

Tahoe Douglas Fire offering free ash cans to those living in their district

Cooler nights are prompting residents to start burning wood in the fireplaces and stoves, and proper disposal of the remaining ashes are important in preventing fires in trash cans and yards.

The Tahoe Douglas Fire Protection District has partnered with Kingsbury Hardware again to provide ash cans to the homeowners of the Fire District for the safe disposal of hot ashes. This program is available free of charge to those residents who are part of the district who use a wood burning appliance to heat their homes.

Prevent house fires: Can Your Ashes

Area fire departments respond to fires every year that are caused by people leaving their fireplace or wood stove ashes in a paper bag on their home's deck. These accidents can easily be prevented with correct handling of ashes.

"Can Your Ashes" is a campaign that informs the public of these inherent dangers.

Embers, often concealed in what appears to be cold ashes, can remain hot enough to kindle a fire for several days.

To safely dispose of ashes, fire officials offer these tips:

• Never store ashes in bags or boxes.

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