EVERETT, WA – Sunday afternoon, just before 4:00 p.m., multiple 911 callers reported seeing thick black smoke and flames in the 2400 block of Columbia Ave. Firefighters arrived
to find a fully involved detached garage fire that was quickly brought under control and extinguished by fire crews, preventing it from spreading to other structures. There were no
injuries to residents or firefighters.
A Fire Inspector responded to the scene and found ashes from a previous evening's BBQ and fire pit were improperly disposed of near the structure, causing the structure to
catch fire.
Damages to the structure and contents of the garage are estimated at $120K.
Coals and ashes from fires can remain hot enough to start a fire for many days after you think the fire is out. The exact time for complete extinguishment and cooling depends on
many factors, such as how hot the fire was, what was burning, how much unburned fuel remains, etc.
Treat all ashes and coals as hot, even when you think enough time has passed for them to cool.
The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) recommends the following to dispose of ashes or coals properly:
- Allow ashes and coals to cool before disposing of them.
- Place ashes or coals in a metal container with a tight-fitting lid that is used only to collect ash or coal. Keep the container at least 10 feet away from a structure or anything that can burn.
- Never empty the ash directly into a trash can.
- Douse and saturate the ashes with water.
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