Officials Urge Residents To Be Careful With Fireplace Ashes
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Sonora, CA — While chestnuts roasting on an open fire may be a Christmas tradition, CAL Fire Battalion Chief Dennis Townsend says residents need to use caution this weekend with wood stoves and fireplaces.
He says fires caused by the improper disposal of ashes occur every winter across the Mother Lode.
“When ashes are accumulated, you should allow them to burn down for at least a day in the fireplace or stove before they are removed,” says Townsend. “They should then be transferred to a metal bucket and sit outside for a minimum of one to three days before they are dumped out.”
The ashes should also be mixed with water before they are disposed of and placed in the wilderness.
Written by bjhansen@mlode.com.
