"Can Your Ashes" campaign teaches correct disposal of ashes

It's once again the season to enjoy a fire in our fireplaces and wood burning stoves, but that also means it's time again to remind everyone how to dispose of the resulting ashes.

It is very dangerous to dispose of fireplace, wood stove or barbecue ashes in improper containers and locations. Since 2014 there has been one structure fire, multiple dumpster fires and one deck fire due in South Lake Tahoe due to improperly disposed of ashes. When you add in Douglas and El Dorado counties, that number gets much higher.

The culprit are embers which are often concealed in what appears to be cold ashes. They can remain hot enough to kindle a fire for several days.

It is recommended to wait at least 96 hours and/or four days before disposing ashes.

Local fires have started when people have put ashes in a garbage bag and left them outdoors, thinking it was safe. To safely dispose of ashes:

• Put discarded ashes in a heavy metal container, douse with water, and cover with fitted metal lid.
• Store the container outside and away from structures, decks, fences, wood piles and other combustible materials.
• Never use a vacuum cleaner to pick up ashes.
• Never put ashes in bags or boxes.
• Contact your local trash collection agency for their disposal recommendations after ashes have cooled and embers are out.

As the fall and winter heating season approaches, please remember to regularly inspect and clean your chimney. Soot and creosote are combustible materials that accumulate inside chimneys and create a dangerous fire hazard unless they are removed.