Fires in Household Trash

2/4/2021 (Permalink)

While in the garage, a fire started in the top trash can, melting it , and making it trash now. Luckily, only minor damage was done to one wall.

There are many things in the home that we fear could cause a fire, but the household garbage can or outside waste bins aren’t usually the first to come to mind. Storing a trash can in the garage can be a big mistake. People have mistakenly thrown ashes from a fireplace, or rags with linseed oil on them into a garage bin, only to have a fire start where they weren’t expecting. Ashes may not always be as “cool” as they seem, and linseed oil can spontaneously combust. Other materials that should never be placed in the trash are rechargeable batteries, flammable and combustible liquids, household chemicals, or compressed gas cylinders.

Besides the danger that fire poses to the home, today’s household trash contains a lot plastics and paper treated with chemical, coatings, and ink. The smoke and ash will contain concentrated amounts of these toxic chemicals.

SERVPRO of Brandon is here to help any time day or night. Should this type of fire happen in your home, contact us and we can handle any and all of your restoration. 601-829-2162.