SMOKE ALARMS ALERT RESIDENT INSIDE
Smoke alarms alerted a Calera Canyon resident Thursday morning after a paper bag of hot fireplace ashes ignited the exterior of her home and filled her home with smoke. The resident escaped the home without injury and called 9-1-1 when she saw smoke outside the house.
Monterey County Regional Fire District personnel were dispatched to the Calera Canyon Road residence near Corral de Tierra Road shortly after 10:00 a.m. and arrived to find that the smoke was coming from underneath the house. Fire had spread under the house, actively burning in the crawlspace area. Fire personnel extinguished the fire in about 30 minutes, keeping fire from burning through any interior walls of the home. Fire crews were on scene for approximately 2 hours.
Investigators confirmed that the fire was started by a paper bag full of fireplace ashes left on the attached wood deck when the resident cleaned the fireplace earlier in the morning. Fire ignited the paper bag, burning the deck and exterior siding of the home before extending underneath the house. Firefighters confirmed that no damage occurred in the home’s interior, but PG&E was called to evaluate possible damage to the home’s electrical service.
Two fire engines, one water tender and 11 personnel from the Monterey County Regional Fire District were committed to the fire. No firefighter injuries were reported.
Ashes from fireplaces, woodstoves, and other woodburning appliances can start fires for several days after they are removed. For safe disposal, burned-wood ashes should ALWAYS be:
- placed in a sturdy metal bucket,
- fully soaked with water,
- set at least 10 feet away from buildings or decks, and
- allowed to cool completely before disposal.
Ashes should never be stored in combustible containers such as paper bags, cardboard boxes or plastic pails.
For additional information regarding fireplace safety, contact Dorothy Priolo at Monterey County Regional Fire District at (831) 455-1828.
Tags: ashes, fireplace, home heating safety, smoke alarms
