Spring & Summer Safety Tips for SERVPRO of Northwest Bergen

8/16/2022 (Permalink)

Your local SERVPRO of Northwest Bergen Service Technicians are on hand 24/7 for emergencies

Spring and Summer has a way of filling us with life, especially with  warmer weather and the social activity that comes with it.

For many, the ultimate social activity is the backyard barbecue. Graduation parties, wedding engagements and family reunions all call for a grilling session or a night around the fire pit.

But these bring with them an inherent rise in fire incidents. In fact, spring sees more daily fires on average than any other time of year.

Since spring is underway and summer around the corner, let’s go over a few fire safety basics for the backyard.

The grill. The grill is a staple of many households in spring and summer, and it’s responsible for much of the activity around festive gatherings. It’s also the prime suspect for accidental fires, because of its unique juxtaposition of flames, high heat, grease and sometimes combustible gas. So be extra careful with those hot dogs. Make sure your grill is working properly and is situated on level ground away from anything flammable. Don’t use accelerants like lighter fluid or gasoline to stoke the fire, and don’t neglect cleaning the grill between uses. Almost 20% of grill fires are due to poor cleaning.

The fire pit. The grill pit has become a favorite backyard item for many homeowners, and it’s a place where conversation and camaraderie seem to come easy. Just make sure that you’re operating yours safely and attended to at all times. Never allow unsupervised kids or pets near the fire. Don’t add leaves or pine needles to the fire; they create embers that can easily be carried away by the wind. And always have a large bucket of water, which you can use to extinguish the fire (slowly, not all at once), or catch any wayward flames or ash.

Chimneys and dryer vents. Clean your chimney while your mind is on fire safety, so you’re not starting the fall with a chimney full of ash and layers of soot. And take the vent pipe off your dryer to remove any lint that might be stuck in it. (Do this again in six months, too.)

Your local SERVPRO of Northwest Bergen Service Technicians are on hand ²⁴⁄₇ for emergencies. If you encounter fire damage at your home or business, no matter the cause, we will be there faster and have it cleaned up sooner. Call or click today and experience the SERVPRO difference.